Chicago, Illinois, is one of the top US jurisdictions for prosecution and arrest of gun crimes. One primary reason for aggressive enforcement against criminal charges in Chicago is its liberal political environment and highly active gang-infested climate. It leads to a rigorous approach towards violators of lawful gun possession. Indeed, Chicago has some of the strictest laws on firearms ownership.
According to the city of Chicago gun laws, you need a FOID card to possess a gun and a CCW license to carry it. If you are charged or arrested with gun charges, you need a top tier gun charges lawyer with experience in fighting firearm charges for years. Here are a few reasons you need such an experienced professional for an aggressive defense against Chicago gun charges.
Understanding Gun Law Charges
In Chicago, you need a FOID card to possess a firearm and a CCW license to carry a gun around. If you fail to carry a firearm with a license properly, you may face a felony charge and spend time in prison. So, make sure that before you carry a gun around, know how Chicago gun laws work.
You may be charged with aggravated unlawful weapon use in Chicago under any of the following conditions:
- If you were carrying or possessing a firearm
- If you were not at your business place or home
- If the firearm was not enclosed in a case, if you did not unload it, and if the ammo was within immediate access
- If you did not possess a valid CCW license or FOID card
Types of Gun Charges that a Lawyer can Save You From
A gun charges lawyer can significantly help you if you have been charged with any of the following charges:
Unlawful Weapon Use
You may receive this charge if you knowingly carry or possess a weapon in a vehicle or person in a concealed form to a place other than your home, business, or owned property. Unlawful weapon use is a class 2 felony, for which you may be imprisoned for 3-7 years.
Aggravated Unlawful Weapon Use
This charge is given to a person who knowingly possesses or carries a weapon without a valid FOID or CCW license on a public street in the open or unloaded form with accessible ammo. Aggravated unlawful weapon use comes under class 4 felony, for which you may be imprisoned for one to four years. For a subsequent offense, you may face 3-7 years of imprisonment. If convicted of this charge, you will not be allowed to obtain a CCW license or FOID card in the future.
Weapon Possession by a Felon
In Chicago, it is illegal for a person to possess a weapon even in their own home or business if he/she has been convicted of a felony. Under this charge, you will not get any chance of probation, and you will be imprisoned for a minimum of 3 years.
Although the citizens of Chicago have the constitutional right to possess a weapon, you may face a serious felony charge if the prosecutor proves that you did not have the proper license and did not correctly carry the firearm. If you have been charged with any of these gun charges, contact a qualified gun charges lawyer immediately to find the best course of action.
First Time Gun Charge
If you have received a gun charge for the first time, you get a chance of probation with a good gun charge attorney. They may negotiate with the prosecutor to amend the charge and prevent a felony on your record.
What to do After Receiving a Gun Charge?
When you receive a gun charge, it’s vital to talk to a knowledgeable attorney to beat it. A skilled gun charges attorney will assess the circumstances and find the best way to beat your case. For instance, they may throw out the case if they can show that the police officer intended to harass you and that they had no reason to stop and check you.
A gun charge attorney familiar with the prosecutors and judges may manage to bring amendments in your charges to make it a misdemeanor offense, keep off felony from your record, and avoid imprisonment.
An experienced and specialized gun lawyer is knowledgeable of the city of Chicago gun laws and knows precisely at what point to attack the prosecutor. Ensure that the attorney you choose has handled many gun charge cases in the past and met success with them. Get in touch with a gun charge attorney as soon as possible after being convicted with a gun charge. They will find the best way out to avoid felony and imprisonment.
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