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Does IL require that you have a permit to own any firearm? Just curious.

Yes, it does. One has to apply for and receive a Firearm Owners' ID Card (FOID) which costs $5 for five years. A FOID is required for Illinois residents to possess a firearm or ammunition anywhere other than at a shooting range under the supervision of a FOID-card holder. A current and valid FOID card is required to purchase firearms or ammunition, and is also required to possess a non-disassembled firearm outside of one's home or fixed place of business (outside the shooting range exception noted above). With a current and valid FOID, one may transport any legal firearm provided that it is stored in a closed container and unloaded, and provided that one doesn't run afoul of local restrictions.

Note that the statute explicitly does not require that a person's FOID be current in order to possess firearms or ammunition within their home or fixed place of business, or to possess ammunition anywhere; nonetheless, some prosecutors don't seem to know that. Additionally, while nothing in statute regards a loaded magazine (which is not installed in a firearm) as aloded weapon, a "firearms fact sheet" published by the head of the state police claimed that a loaded magazine counts as a loaded firearm, and some police officers and prosecutors may still believe that (the current version of the "fact sheet" has been corrected).

Summary:

Non-resident:: May possess firearms and ammunition, provided that when in a vehicle the firearms are not readily accessible. Residents of adjoining states 18 and older may purchase rifles or non-pistol-grip shotguns with a 24-hour harassment period.
State resident--no FOID: May not possess any firearms or ammunition, except when on a range under the supervision of a FOID-card holder; there are limited grace periods for people moving into the state or for people who inherit firearms.
State resident--current FOID: May purchase and possess firearms and ammunition; there is a 24-hour harassment period for rifles and non-pistol-grip shotguns and a 72-hour harassment period for handguns and pistol-grip shotguns. When outside one's home, fixed place of business, or shooting range, firearms must be unloaded and kept in a closed container.
State resident--expired FOID: May possess firearms and ammunition; firearms must be disassembled except when at one's home or fixed place of business, or at a range under the supervision of a FOID-card holder.

For some reason, prosecutors don't seem to recognize that the latter actions are permissible with an expired FOID, but while the statutes dealing with firearm purchase or transportation explicitly require that a firearm-possessor's FOID be current and valid, the language relating to general possession merely requires that the FOID have been previously been issued by the Illinois State Police.

WOW! I knew that firearm ownership was difficult in other states, but I had no idea the "hoops" you guys have to jump through!
Down here (Alabama) you have to be 18 to purchase a long gun, and either 18 or 21(I'm not really sure) for a handgun. Anyone 16 (I think it is) and over can possess any firearm. You may not carry a handgun concealed in an automobile without having a CCP. You may transport a handgun not concealed in your automobile.
If one was to carry a handgun concealed without a CCP while NOT committing a violent crime, it is a misdemeanor that carries a minor fine. If you don't want to pay the fine just request a jury trial and it will be all over because the grand jury would never vote to bill the crime.
You have to be 18 to purchase ammunition.
Unless there are unusual circumstances I think you have to be 25 to get a CCP.
Generally here in Alabama, if you are not a criminal committing a crime, or just being stupid waving a firearm around, you will not run into problems with the law.