5 Ways You can be Charged with a Gun Crime in Illinois
Illinois has some of the strictest firearm laws in the country. Despite this, however, it is not difficult for most citizens to legally buy and use guns of various types for hunting, sport shooting, and personal defense.
Gun ownership comes with a lot of responsibility, and if you don’t take it seriously, you could be charged with a gun crime. This can happen even if you aren’t aware that you are violating any local, state or federal laws.
Here are 5 ways you can be charged with a gun crime in Illinois.
Committing a Crime with Firearm Involvement
The most obvious example is if you commit any crime while using a firearm. When this occurs, the person committing the crime is going to receive additional penalties on top of the normal charges. For example, robbing a store is obviously a serious offense. If you rob the same store, and take the same amount of money, but do it by threatening the store owner with a firearm, it will be much worse under the law.
Illegally Modified Firearms
If you own a legal firearm, you can quickly make it illegal by performing prohibited modifications. For example, if you are in possession of a sawed-off shotgun, you will be violating (§24-1(a)(7)(ii)). Even if you never use the sawed-off shotgun in any crime, you will be charged if it is discovered to be in your possession.
Other examples of potentially illegal modifications include:
making a semi-automatic firearm into an automatic
adding a bump stock to certain guns
using a silencer.
Carrying a Firearm in Restricted Locations
Just because you have the right to own, or even carry, a firearm doesn’t mean that you can bring it with you wherever you want. If you are found to be carrying a firearm in restricted locations, you can be charged with a variety of different things ranging from misdemeanors to felonies.
For example, according to (§24-1(a)(8)) you are not allowed to carry or possess any firearm in a location that is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. Bringing guns to a government building (including courthouses), schools, and many other locations is also prohibited. Learning about these types of restrictions is critical for the safe and legal carrying of a firearm.
Possession of an Unregistered Firearm
Most types of firearms need to be registered before you purchase them, and you need a license in order to own them. If you don’t follow the proper procedures to get licensed and registered, it is illegal to own that gun. If you are caught with it, you will be charged with the relevant crimes.
Dressing Suspiciously While Carrying a Firearm
Most people don’t realize that it is illegal to carry a firearm while you are hooded, masked, or robed. This is a Class 4 Felony under (§24-1(a)(9)).
Concealing your identity while carrying a firearm is illegal, so make sure to keep this in mind, especially during the winter months where you may unintentionally be violating this law.
Final Thoughts
If you have been charged with any type of gun law violation, you need to take steps to protect your legal rights. A conviction can lead to serious fines, the loss of your right to own a gun, and even jail time.
Our team has years of experience helping protect people’s rights, and we are here for you. Please contact us to discuss your situation and get the help you need right away.