The state of Illinois levies very serious penalties against those who have been convicted of the unlawful use of weapons. Just as you might assume, one of these penalties can be, and often is, losing your gun ownership rights.
By going over what it means to lose your gun ownership rights after an unlawful use of weapons conviction, and speaking with a Chicago criminal defense attorney, you may have an easier time obtaining the outcome you need.
What Is An Unlawful Use Of Weapons Charge In Illinois?
In the state of Illinois, an unlawful use of weapons charge usually involves someone possessing or using a firearm in a manner that the state of Illinois has prohibited.
For example, you cannot own a firearm in Illinois unless you have a valid FOID card. And, if you do own a firearm, without this FOID card, you could spend up to one year in jail.
Many other crimes fall under the “unlawful use of weapons” umbrella in Illinois. Some of these other crimes include the following:
- Threatening someone with a deadly weapon.
- Owning a gun while being a felon.
- Using a gun while committing a crime.
- Carrying a loaded gun in your car.
- Being under the age of 21 and owning a gun.
Every single one of the above can lead to criminal charges. Depending on the nature of these criminal charges, a conviction could lead to you no longer being able to own guns, on top of jail/prison time and heavy fines.
When Does An Unlawful Use Of Weapons Charge Lead To You Losing Your Gun Ownership Rights?
The answer to this question is generally as follows:
- If you are convicted of a felony or an unlawful use of weapons charge, you will almost always lose your gun ownership rights.
- If you are convicted of aggravated unlawful use of weapons – this is almost always a felony – you will probably lose your gun ownership rights.
Outside of the above, if you have been convicted of a felony in the past and you are convicted of an unlawful use of weapons charge, you will face severe penalties, as your prior felony conviction prevents you from owning guns.
You may still be able to own guns, even after an unlawful use of weapons conviction, if you were:
- Convicted of a misdemeanor, unlawful use of weapons charge – these types of convictions usually won’t lead to you losing your gun ownership rights.
- Convicted of a misdemeanor, unlawful use of weapons charge that involves an administrative issue – if you don’t have a FOID card, for example, getting one can allow you to own guns after a conviction.
Regardless of the exact charges that underlie an unlawful use of weapons conviction, you almost always run the risk of a jail/prison sentence. This is why working with an attorney is almost always the best course of action.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
If you need representation for a criminal charge, 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 Chicago criminal defense lawyer today to learn how our experience can get you the results you deserve.