Chicago’s gun turn-in program will give you a $100 prepaid Visa gift card for any whole firearm you hand over to the Chicago Police Department at a scheduled event, with no ID, paperwork, or questions about where the gun came from. BB guns, airsoft guns, and replicas qualify for a $10 card. You can also surrender a gun at any Chicago police station on a walk-in basis, but the gift card is only available at official turn-in events.1Chicago Police Department. Gun Turn-In Program
What You Get Paid
The compensation is flat and simple. Every whole firearm earns one $100 Visa card, regardless of type, caliber, or condition. A working hunting rifle and a rusty revolver found in an attic bring the same amount. There’s no cap on how many guns you can turn in at one visit; each one gets its own card.1Chicago Police Department. Gun Turn-In Program
The cards work anywhere Visa is accepted, with one exception: they can’t be used at gun shops.1Chicago Police Department. Gun Turn-In Program
What CPD Will Accept
CPD takes handguns, rifles, shotguns, and any other whole firearm, functioning or not. BB guns, airsoft guns, and replicas each qualify for a $10 card. Loose ammunition and gun parts are accepted for safe disposal but don’t earn a card on their own. Toy guns are not accepted.1Chicago Police Department. Gun Turn-In Program
The FOID Card Problem Most People Miss
Before you load the gun into your car, check whether you have a valid Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification card. State law requires any Illinois resident who possesses a firearm to hold one.2Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 430 ILCS 65 – Firearm Owners Identification Card Act If you inherited a gun, found one in a relative’s belongings, or have one that’s been sitting in a closet for years and you never got a FOID card, driving that gun to a turn-in event can technically violate Illinois law.
If you don’t have a FOID card and can’t easily get one, call 911 or your local police district, explain that you have a firearm you’d like to surrender, and ask an officer to come to you. That removes the transport issue completely. You won’t get the gift card this way, but you also won’t risk a weapons charge.
How to Transport the Gun If You Do Have a FOID Card
With a valid FOID card, Illinois lets you transport a firearm in a vehicle as long as one of the following is true:3Illinois State Police. Transporting Your Firearm
- The firearm is broken down into a non-functioning state.
- It’s not immediately accessible, meaning placed in the trunk or a locked container the driver can’t easily reach.
- It’s unloaded and enclosed in a case, carrying box, or other container, with your FOID card on you.
Before you leave the house, unload the gun, remove the magazine, and keep any ammunition separate from the firearm. Put the gun in the trunk or inside a locked case out of reach. These steps follow the transport exceptions under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.4Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/24-1 – Unlawful Possession of Weapons
Getting this wrong is serious. Improper transport is a Class A misdemeanor on a first offense, carrying up to 364 days in county jail and a $2,500 fine. A second offense becomes a Class 3 felony, and the same is true for a violation near a school, park, or courthouse.4Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/24-1 – Unlawful Possession of Weapons
What Happens at the Event
Turn-in events are usually hosted at churches, community centers, and other neighborhood sites. When you arrive, you’ll generally be told to stay in your vehicle. An officer walks up to retrieve the firearm directly from the trunk or storage area, so the gun is never visible in public. Once the officer confirms it’s a whole firearm, you get your Visa card on the spot. You won’t be asked for identification or any explanation of where the gun came from.1Chicago Police Department. Gun Turn-In Program
The Walk-In Alternative
You don’t have to wait for an event. CPD accepts surrendered guns at any Chicago police station at any time, on a walk-in basis. The tradeoff is that the $100 gift card is only available at scheduled events, so a walk-in surrender gets the gun out of your home immediately but earns nothing.1Chicago Police Department. Gun Turn-In Program All the same transport rules apply to the drive over.
Finding Upcoming Events
CPD doesn’t publish a fixed annual calendar. Events are announced as they’re scheduled, through the department’s website and community outreach. For current dates and locations, call the CPD Office of Community Policing at 312-745-5900.1Chicago Police Department. Gun Turn-In Program