Illinois Weapons Defense

Illinois, and Chicago especially, has some of the toughest laws in the country when it comes to regulating firearms and weapons. Luckily, in 2008, the United States Supreme Court decided its first "Right to Bear Arms" case in District of Columbia v. Heller.

This case holds that the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution protects an individual right to possess firearms in some circumstances. This case opens many excellent opportunities for those who are merely attempting to exercise their Constitutional right to possess firearms.

Illinois Firearms Law: Potential Penalties

Class A Misdemeanors Punishable by Up to a Year in Jail and/or $2500 Fine

• Possession of a firearm,
• Possession of a knife, switchblade, throwing star, blackjack or bludgeon,
• Possession with intent to use a dagger, knife, or broken bottle or piece of glass,
• Possession of a tear gas gun,
• Selling, manufacturing, or possessing an explosive bullet.

Class 4 Felonies Punishable by Up to 1-3 Years in Jail and/or $25,000 Fine

• Possession of a firearm in an establishment that sells alcohol,
• Possession of a firearm while hooded, robed, or masked,
• Possession of a firearm without a valid FOID card,

Class 3 Felony Punishable by 2-5 Years and/or $25,000

• Second offense of possession of a firearm,
• Possession of a firearm within 1000 feet of a school, courthouse, housing project, or park,
• Possession of a sawed off shotgun,
• Possession of a bomb, grenade, or Molotov cocktail,
• Possession of a silencer.

Class 2 Felony Punishable by 3-7 Years and/or $25,000

• Possession of a machine gun

Class X Felony Punishable by 6-30 Years and/or $25,000

• Possession of a loaded machine gun.

Call for a Free Case Evaluation of Your Illinois Firearms or Weapons Offense

If you have been accused of a firearms or weapons offense in Illinois there is no substitute for having your case evaluated by an experienced Illinois criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Call 312.789.8050 for a free no obligation case evaluation.

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