I thought that the whole State was a gun-free zone already.
Not exactly. Handguns were banned only in Chicago and a few suburbs, but the Supreme Court struck that down a few years ago. It’s still difficult to obtain a permit under the new ordinances though, because they make you jump through a lot of hoops.
Rifles and shotguns have always been legal throughout the state, even in Chicago, but there are no provisions for open or concealed carry (for the average citizen). So, basically, you can keep them in your home, and you can only transport them for certain purposes, like hunting, or going to the range. You also have to keep them unloaded, with the ammunition secured separately, while you are transporting them.
Not gun-friendly, but not exactly gun-free either.
As someone who knows people in southern Illinois, this will not happen.