Chicago is known around the world for its strict gun control laws. Carrying or concealing a weapon or gun in public while you’re in Chicago is illegal—and the law is very clear. Because of the high rates of violent crime in our city, weapons charges are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
If you’ve been accused of a gun crime, such as possessing a firearm or concealing a weapon in public, it’s in your best interest to get in touch with a gun crime defense lawyer in Chicago as soon as you can. Your future may be at stake.
Felony Gun Crimes in Chicago and the Suburbs
You need a firearm owner’s identification card, or FOID card, if you possess a firearm in your home or your car.
However, even if you possess a valid FOID card, transporting a gun the wrong way is a crime (under Illinois law, a gun must be enclosed in a case or other container, and it must be unloaded). If you transport an uncased gun under your car’s seat or in the glove compartment (or elsewhere in your vehicle), you can be charged with unlawful use of a weapon.
Unlawful use of a weapon is a Class 4 felony, and it’s punishable by 1 to 3 years in prison.
In many cases, police pull people over for routine traffic violations and find a weapon that’s being improperly transported or one that belongs to someone without a valid FOID card. Those are felony offenses, and the police won’t hesitate to pull out their handcuffs and take the alleged offender to jail in either of those cases.
If you become a convicted felon, you won’t be allowed to own a gun for the rest of your life. Even non-residents of Chicago or the state of Illinois can be charged under our state’s gun control laws.
What to Do if You’re Accused of a Gun Crime in Chicago or the Suburbs
Don’t delay—you need to talk to an experienced gun crime defense lawyer in Chicago as soon as possible. Gun crime cases can be incredibly complex, and it’s a good idea to get in touch with an attorney who can evaluate your case, examine the facts and begin building a strategic defense that gets you the best possible outcome.
Call us at 847-920-4540 for your free weapons charge case evaluation.
The Law Offices of Matt Fakhoury will fight hard for your freedom, and we take pride in our individualized legal strategy. We will exploit any unlawful police searches or illegal traffic stops that police used to obtain the weapon, so call us immediately.
