Culp v. Raoul

Defending Illinois’s concealed-carry restrictions on non-residents.

Court: Seventh Circuit

Issue at Stake: Public carry

Summary: Under Illinois’s Firearm Concealed Carry Act, non-residents from states that do not have licensing standards substantially similar to those of Illinois are barred from applying for concealed-carry licenses. Culp v. Raoul is a challenge to this regulation brought by out-of-state plaintiffs who contend that it violates their Second Amendment rights.

Everytown filed an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, urging the court to affirm the district court’s decision upholding Illinois’s law. The brief argues that Illinois’s concealed-carry licensing regime is consistent with centuries of historical practice, and thus falls outside the core protection of the Second Amendment. It then demonstrates how Illinois’s system is also consistent with, and is indeed more permissive than, those of many other states. Finally, the brief argues that the failure of certain states—including the plaintiffs’ home states—to input records into national background-check databases undermines Illinois’s ability to safely administer a system that issues permits to non-residents.

Decision: On April 12, 2019, the Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s decision. The plaintiffs petitioned for a rehearing en banc, which was denied on May 13, 2019. The United States Supreme Court denied review on June 15, 2020.

Case Documents