Question on Transporting Long-Guns With Passengers That Have FOID Cards Without One Myself
Howdy,
I had tried contacting the ISP firearms services bureau via their phone line and email without too much luck in getting a response so I'm doing a bit of searching around on this. My question is related to the IL leg of a trip I'll be going on as it seems like somewhat of a gray area based on what I've seen on Google and could be a place where I could potentially run into an issue.
Some context: I'm going to be taking a trip with a couple of friends up to one of their families farm in the UP of Michigan to do some fishing/kayaking/etc. I'm the only one with an SUV so we were planning on taking my car. My friends were considering bringing their shotguns to do some shooting at a range and on the farm while we're there. I am not very experienced with any sort of firearms and have not considered/do not have a FOID card or any kind of guns. My friends both have valid FOID cards and would have their shotguns in a case/unloaded/etc. in the trunk of the car.
My main question: does the fact that the firearms are owned and in possession of my passengers satisfy IL transport requirements, or does the driver of the vehicle also need a FOID card when firearms are present in the vehicle? I know you need a FOID card to "possess firearms or ammunition" in IL. However, I'm unsure if even though the firearms are being "properly" transported (i.e. unloaded in the trunk in a case), I would be the one with constructive possession because it's my vehicle rather than my friends who are the FOID card holders. I just want to be sure that I'm not going to technically be in possession of firearms without a valid FOID card.
There's not as much of a consideration for the WI and MI portions based on what I've read online. Their laws for long-guns seem to only really care that the firearms are unloaded, in a case, and in the trunk.
Any insight on this would be hugely helpful. I just want to plan accordingly and expose myself to the least amount of unnecessary legal risk. My buddies think we'll be fine but I would like to make sure I don't accidentally become a felon lol.
Also probably should've mentioned this at the start but I am an IL resident.