For months, CBS News Chicago has been pulling on a thread that many lawful gun owners, especially Black gun owners, have lived with for years. Now, an inside source has said the quiet part out loud.
According to the exclusive report, some Chicago police officers are arresting law-abiding gun owners with valid FOID cards and concealed carry licenses anyway. And there may be career and financial incentives to do it.
The source, a decorated veteran officer who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said bluntly that race plays a role and that arrests tied to firearms can boost an officer’s numbers, visibility, and chances for promotion.
“If you have really high numbers in terms of firearms recovered,” the source told CBS. “You will get the attention of supervisors. If you get promoted, then yeah—you’re financially better off.”
The station documented multiple cases where Black gun owners followed the law perfectly, disclosed their firearms during traffic stops, presented valid licenses, and were still arrested and charged with felonies.
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One of those cases involved Curtis Tarver, an Illinois state lawmaker. After being stopped for a minor traffic issue, Tarver immediately disclosed his firearm and showed police his FOID and concealed carry license.
Officers even acknowledged that everything appeared in order. Then they arrested him anyway after claiming his license was revoked in the system.
It wasn’t.
Tarver’s case was eventually dismissed. But not before he was booked, photographed, and publicly labeled a criminal. That mugshot still exists. The damage didn’t disappear when the charges did.
CBS Chicago also highlighted Louis McWilliams, a business owner who took the required classes, paid the fees, obtained his license, and carried legally. When police couldn’t immediately verify his CCL in the state database, he was arrested and charged with two felonies. Months later, prosecutors dropped the charges after confirming his license was valid all along.
And here’s the kicker: no one is tracking how often this happens.
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Neither the Chicago Police Department nor the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office tracks how many lawful gun owners are wrongly charged and later cleared. Yet CPD provided a database showing more than 52,000 firearms seized as “illegal” since 2019. That includes guns belonging to people whose cases were dismissed.
Legal experts said Illinois law is clear: if a license holder presents valid credentials, disclosure requirements are met. Period.
But as one expert warned, the “no harm, no foul” mindset ignores the real consequences: arrest, jail, legal bills, lost jobs, public shaming, and permanent records that don’t magically vanish.
For gun owners watching from the outside, the message is unsettling. Follow the law, do everything right, and you still might get cuffed.
As CBS Chicago’s reporting shows, the issue isn’t public safety. It’s accountability. And until the system starts tracking these cases, the scope of the problem may be far bigger than anyone wants to admit.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.