This one has been on my mind for a week or so after seeing Chicago Dems introducing bills in both the state House and Senate.
The bills propose preventing manufacture, import, sales, offer to sell receive or transfer “easily convertible pistols” into fully automatic weapons- AKA Glocks with a full auto sear or switch installed. There is no special language about guns already legally owned. I hope they are grandfathered in as ok to still possess. It should be too big a slice to take them out of the hands of law abiding owners- but I have been disappointed by this bunch of legislators before! The liberal legislators may just not have thought that far ahead and are just copying the trendy New Jersey/Massachusetts/California anti-Glock laws.
The initial news I saw listed the House Bill incorrectly. The actual HB is 4045, and essentially the same bill in the Senate is SB 2652. I am unsure if this effort has the legs to make it across the legis summer vacation goal line, but with the Dem controlled House and Senate and the new Demo star Gov J.B. Buffet in the wings- I know he would salivate all over it and sign it if it can get to his desk, and similar late night bills have been ramrodded through like the heinous assault-ish type PICA ban when it was fast tracked into the late night bundled inside another bill’s number.
I checked a couple online sources today which say the Illinois Assembly goes on summer vacation on 31 May, 2025 and both bills have only been forwarded to committees, so technically they should be several steps away from full body votes. However, take it from me, a 30 year survivor of Absolutely Unnecessary Government meetings, never, ever, underestimate the stupidity of large groups of human beings working together.
What if you would like to purchase a currently legal Glock or Glock-like pistol this summer before bad laws come to pass? I’ve seen this type of behavior before- it has happened to me! I remember living in the People’s Republic of Kalifornia when Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law prohibiting .50 rifle ownership (despite the fact of course no such mega dollar behemoth had ever been used in a crime in Kalifornia.) I had no earthly use or desire for a .50 Barrett- until they made it illegal…then I wanted one on general principle!
Here are a couple of ways to get some deals on Glocks while the sun still shines. They are all legal and above board. You must route any such purchase through a registered in state FFL.
The niftiest way to get discounted yet brand new Glocks…is from Glock via their Glock Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) at www. gssf.pro. This is a deal. If you join the GSSF for $35 a year ($25 for renewal) you get invited to shoot in both indoor and outdoor matches across the U.S. where all participants shoot Glock pistols and promote gun safety. You also get a print magazine and some swag from time to time, but the best part, if you are over 21 years of age you get a GSSF Pistol Purchase Coupon which entitles you to purchase one Glock pistol a year at factory cost. Whaa? Discount price Glock? Yes at a participating Blue Label Glock in state gun store.
The price list for the Pistol Purchase Program is rather lengthy, but I generally see the program pistols selling for $100-$200 cheaper than normal on the shelf gun shop prices.
Here is an example, the GSSF price for a GEN5 G17 in 9mm (or a G19, G25 and G45) with plain jane sights is $425. The same gun at Bass Pro Shop is listed online at $540. Doing the math out loud, yes if you spend $35 you can get $115 off the same gun. (What a great “Honey it was on sale line!”)
You look up local participating Glock Pistol Purchase Blue Label Dealer gun shops in your area/state on the GSSF website. Then drive over there and present your coupon. (Yes there is some movement to this whole thing- subscribing, driving, talking, paying… so don’t wait until last minute.) Joining GSSF usually takes a week or two to get your info in the mail. https://gssf.pro/membership/pistol-purchase/
The next way I shop for best firearm prices online, is using gun.deals. Not www.gun.deals.com- just type in plain-old gun.deals. This uses internet troll magic in an underground cave guarded by a dragon to open a website which allows you to type in any gun you are interested in, and gun.deals will search the entire U.S. based internet sales for that gun- and will display for you the cheapest price being offered for a brand new gun- in stock, and offered via online sellers as well as shipping and handling fees. I never buy off the shelf any more, I use gun.deals exclusively and have them shipped to my instate local FFL who initiates the Federal paperwork and background checks and waiting periods as required by state law.
Yes, you make the online payment with the seller you have never met- but they are a business (look em up if you are unsure), and then have it shipped to your local FFL. They have easy instructions on the website and pull down menus for FFLs in your area who accept these online purchase guns. You let your FFL know about your purchase and then let them know it is being shipped to the FFL and you fill out the background check paperwork with that FFL. (Often a good idea to contact the FFL first to insure they still accept online purchases, the fees they charge to do the paperwork, and if they have any special requirements from you the buyer.)
I did a quick check on gun.deals just now and cheapest online price for a new Glock G17 Gen5 has one seller offering for $539, next for $563 and as high as $743. Now some may have night sights or not, or more mags- do yer dang research before you buy! Your Uncle Mike can’t do everything for ya!
Used on the shelf Glocks, are almost always a good buy since you just can’t wear the thing out with ordinary use. They never seem to drop below $350 as a used gun, however in local gun shops I see lots of used ones up around $400-$450.
Glockstore published news this week about Glock making some announcements which will probably lead to some Summer 2025 discounted prices. Glock has purportedly decided to stop making the entire Gen4 line of pistols. You may see a stockpile of leftovers hit the market or your local gun store (LGS) at reduced rates.
Glock is also cutting out production of the odd calibers, namely .40 S&W, .357 Sig and the largely unsuccessful .45 GAP. (The .45 GAP works just fine as a concept- it just never garnered a following for sales and repeat sales.)
Even bigger, Glock is purportedly dropping all versions and generations of the G29-(10mm) and the G30 (.45 ACP). Gone. No more. Moving in different direction I guess.
Glockstore.com is currently selling Gen 5 G29 10mm for $519 and the Gen 5 G30 .45 ACP for $445 (that is a fistful of chubby .45 pills for cheap!)
That is all for now. Proceed at best possible speed and stay hydrated would ya?
One could always go to a neighboring, non-communist state and purchase one, not? I there anything that prevents that?