If you own a gun in the state of Illinois, you must have a FOID card to go with that gun. And, if you don’t have a FOID card, you can be arrested for the unlawful use of a firearm.
Going over three ways the police find and arrest illegal gun owners in the state of Illinois and speaking with an experienced Schaumburg weapons charge defense attorney will allow you to protect your legal rights.
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01: Probable Cause Searches
The police have the right to search if they have probable cause that a crime has been committed. This means that if the police have a reasonable suspicion you have a weapon, they can conduct a search of your person.
If the police find a weapon during this search, and you have no FOID card Or Concealed Carry Permit to go with this weapon, you can be charged with the unlawful use of a weapon.
On top of that, if the police find anything else that can be linked to a crime or is, in fact, illegal to possess, you may be charged with other crimes, as well.
The above can occur even if the police have no warrant and you do not consent to this search. No matter what, though, you can always work with an attorney who can contest the legality of this search, among other facts.
02: Arresting You
If the police arrest you for any reason at all, they have the right to search you, as well as your vehicle, during the course of arrest.
Just as an example, if you are arrested for unpaid child support, then, during the course of your arrest, the police can search your vehicle. And, if they find a firearm with no FOID card or Concealed Cary Permit, you can be charged with that, too.
Yet another example of the above is as follows: if your spouse accuses you of domestic violence and the police come to your home and arrest you, they can search your home and, if they find an illegal gun, charge you with that, too.
03: Witness Tip-Offs
The police agencies in Illinois often allow witnesses and regular citizens – among other groups – to call them and, in doing so, report suspected crimes.
A good example of the above is as follows: if someone sees you with a gun on your person, and they suspect that you have no FOID card to go with this gun, then they call the police about their suspicion.
If the police choose to act on this, then they could drive over and approach you. This doesn’t mean that they can search you – they still need a warrant – although, if the crime is serious enough, they may be able to obtain one. Calling a lawyer can significantly improve your chances of prevailing legally in a situation like this.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
If you need representation for a crime, Glasgow & Olsson is uniquely qualified to help you.
Our team has helped thousands of people who have been charged with crimes in Illinois. When we take cases, we do so to win. This means we take cases to trial. We don’t arrange plea bargains unless it is in the best interest of our clients. As proactive lawyers, we fight aggressively and support our clients throughout their entire case up to and including appeals. Protecting your life and freedom is always the goal, and with our decades of experience practicing law, we know how to get results. This is why we are regularly invited to appear as a legal contributor on popular radio and news outlets, including ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox NEWS.
When you need an attorney, experience matters.
Speak with a criminal defense attorney today to learn how our experience can help you get the results you need.