Pushed by court decisions, Illinois lawmakers made a significant change to the state’s gun laws this summer by passing the Firearm Concealed Carry Act in July. As a result of the law, starting next year Illinois residents will be able to carry a concealed weapon in many public places.
But it is critical to remember that, even with this change, Illinois still has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Failure to follow the concealed carry rules explicitly or using the weapon in different capacities may still result in serious gun charges that can drastically alter your life.
Gun Crimes in Illinois
Under the new law, to carry a weapon an individual must secure an Illinois Concealed Carry License. The license is only available to those who are at least twenty one years old, have a valid FOID card, do not have certain criminal convictions in their record, and have completed the requisite training course.
Failure to secure the proper license while still carrying the weapon can result in Unlawful Use of Weapons charges. The same charges may also be filed even with a valid Concealed Carry license if you bring the weapon into certain areas where prohibitions are still in place–like schools and certain businesses which seek to prohibit concealed carry. Also, “open” carry is still against the law in Illinois. You may face weapons charges for carrying a weapon that is not concealed from public view. These charges may reach the felony level, resulting in significant fines and extended jail time.
Beyond the concealed carry issue, all other Illinois gun crimes remain on the books. Threatening another with your weapon, firing a shot, injuring another, or killing someone with the weapon can spur many different criminal charges, including assault, battery, manslaughter, and murder. In most cases, committing these offenses with a gun results in enhanced penalties.
Stiffer Penalties Coming?
In fact, there is a recent legislative push in Illinois to increase certain gun crime penalties. Under a proposed bill, all first-time offenders who are convicted of an aggravated unlawful use of a weapon charge would be required to serve at least eighty five perfect of a sentence. Keep in mind that this would include situations where someone carries a loaded gun in a public place without a valid license or identification card even one time.
Illinois Gun Crime Defense
If you are facing weapons charges in Illinois, the Law Offices of Thomas Glasgow, Ltd. can help. Our Illinois criminal defense attorney can ensure your rights are protected, no matter what the situation. We work with community members in Schaumburg and many neighboring communities, including Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and other suburban cities.