Weapons Charges
If you find yourself caught up in weapons charges in Chicago, the stakes are high. Illinois has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, and Cook County prosecutors aren’t here to play. A simple stop in Chatham or Roseland can turn into a life-changing event in the blink of an eye, and you’ll need a Chicago weapons charges lawyer who knows the game. The CPD haunts every corner of Chicago, but an attorney is here to fight for your rights.
At C. Norris Law Group, we have been defending clients for years against weapons charges and know how the CPD spins these cases. The penalties in these cases are no joke, and attorney Cierra N. Norris is here to fight for your freedom. She knows these streets, she gets the system, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to keep you out of the Cook County jail and away from a rap sheet that could ruin your future. Call Cierra today.
Common Weapons Charges in Chicago
In the last decade, Illinois has seen nearly 16,000 arrests for firearm crimes, a large portion of these arrests involving Black men in their 20s. The South Side of Chicago sits under a CPD microscope when it comes to firearm crimes and weapons charges, and the system is not built in your favor.
Thankfully, Cierra N. Norris is here to flip the script. Whatever kind of weapons charges you’re facing, she is ready to take on your case and fight for you. The most common weapons charges faced by individuals in Chicago include the following:
- Unlawful use of weapons. This is a complex offense in Chicago that involves multiple actions or crimes related to firearms or other weapons. It can include the selling, manufacturing, possessing, or purchasing of a weapon in an unlawful manner. These charges can range from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the circumstances of the alleged crime.
- Aggravated discharge. This crime typically involves an alleged act of shooting into an occupied building, in the direction of a person, or at an occupied vehicle, amongst other situations. This is a serious felony offense that can carry severe penalties if you are convicted. At C. Norris Law Group, we don’t come to play when you are charged with this crime. We come to fight for your freedom and your future.
- Reckless discharge. In recent years, Cook County has seen nearly 600 arrests for charges of reckless discharge of a firearm. These charges can arise if an individual has allegedly shot a weapon in a way that causes others physical harm. This is a felony offense in Illinois and carries severe penalties such as jail time, fines, and being slapped with a permanent criminal record.
- Unlawful possession of a firearm. In Illinois, it is illegal for certain individuals to possess a firearm. This can include minors, people who have been hospitalized due to mental health issues, people under a certain age who have prior convictions or a juvenile record, and drug addicts.
Legal Support From Our Team
When it comes to these charges, you will likely find yourself having to walk into a Cook County courthouse. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back in these situations. We are familiar with these courthouses, including the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse on California Avenue in Little Village, where felony cases are often heard, or the Markham Courthouse on South Kedzie Parkway in Markham.
We know facing weapons charges, especially when you are completely innocent, is scary and overwhelming. At C. Norris Law Group, we aren’t just another group of lawyers in suits; we’re here to get down and dirty and fight hard for your freedom.
Firearms Charges In Chicago Can Mean Harsher Punishment
The Chicago Police Department prioritizes arrests for firearms violations. Firearms offenses are frequently part of other charges. This enhances the penalties that apply to an initial charge. The use of a weapon often changes the offense to a felony, which means stiffer penalties.
The first step in avoiding trouble with the law is to obtain proper state licensing. The Illinois State Police (ISP) issues Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) cards and Concealed Carry Licenses (CCL) to qualifying state residents. The FOID card is the key identifier for eligible residents to acquire, possess, and use firearms and ammunition. The CCL permits a gun owner to carry their firearm concealed.
It is critical to have a FOID card and CCL for carrying a loaded gun. Otherwise, even without a criminal record, the court could order one to three years as a sentence without the alternative of probation. If the firearm is unloaded, the penalty could be probation or one to three years in prison. A felony background could increase the sentence to three to seven years.
Unlawful possession of a firearm can be charged as a felony if you do not have a FOID card, you have a criminal record of a felony conviction or you are under 21 years old. Without a criminal record, you could be facing a Class A misdemeanor and possibly up to one year in the Cook County jail.
Purchasing A Firearm
There is a mandatory 72-hour waiting period for all firearm purchases, including handguns.
There are strict limits on firearms ownership for those:
- Convicted of a felony, domestic battery, assault, aggravated assault and other violent crimes
- Subject to a protective order or in violation of a protective order
- Addicted to narcotics
- Mentally or intellectually disabled
- Dishonorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces
- Certain delinquent minors
ISP typically declines to issue FOID cards in these situations.
Types Of The State’s Illegal Firearms
While the Second Amendment protects your right to gun ownership, there are restrictions on the kinds of firearms permissible. Class 3 felony charges may apply for possession of illegal firearms such as:
- Firearm silencer or suppressor: Probation or two to five years in prison
- Sawed-off shotgun with a barrel measuring 18 inches or less: Probation or two to five years in prison
- Modified or altered rifle measuring less than 26 inches: Probation or two to five years in prison
- Unloaded automatic weapon or machine gun: Three to seven years in prison; no probation
- Automatic weapon loaded and in a car: Six to 30 years in prison; no probation
- Defacing a serial number: Probation or two to five years in prison
Defending You Against Weapon Charges: Why You Need to Hire a Weapons Charges Lawyer
When you’ve been arrested on weapons charges in Chicago, you might feel as though this is it: the end of the line. It’s not, especially when you pick up the phone and call Cierra. The team at C. Norris Law Group can review your case and determine what defense strategies work correctly to keep you out of jail and your innocence intact. These defense strategies can include:
- Having a valid permit. If you are in possession of a FOID card, this will likely protect you from facing criminal charges in most situations. However, there are still areas in Chicago where, even with a permit, carrying a firearm is not permitted. These places can include courthouses, restaurants that serve alcohol, schools, and other public areas.
- Illegal or improper police behavior or brutality. Recently, cases of police misconduct have increased, with over 1,000 claims being filed in Chicago over the past few years. CPD officers need to follow certain protocols to secure evidence in a firearms case against you. If they illegally search you or your vehicle or do not read your rights, this can be used in defense.
- The firearm was disassembled or unloaded. Cierra N. Norris may be able to argue that your weapon was unloaded and wasn’t even within your reach at the time of your arrest. This can be a useful defense if your firearm was located in the trunk of your vehicle while you were driving, and there is no way you would have been able to reach it. If your weapon were disassembled, this could also be a useful defense.
- Training courses. Another legal defense strategy for possessing a firearm in cases where you were on or near school property is that you are currently enrolled in a gun safety course.
At C. Norris Law Group, we have the ability and the knowledge to review your weapons charges case and determine which defense works right in your situation. Now is not the time to let a gun charge kill your vibe. Instead, grab your phone and call Cierra. She is ready to fight for you, whatever your case might entail. Hire a weapons charges lawyer today.
Call Us Today And Protect Your Right To Bear Arms
Weapons offenses are an intricate weave of local, state, and federal gun possession regulations, and trafficking and violent crime charges. At C. Norris Law Group, we will aggressively defend you when you are facing weapons charges. Our Chicago weapons charges attorneys know the grind of Chicago’s south side, and we are ready to put our experience and skill to the task of fighting to keep you out of jail, no matter what. Call 312-625-6129 or email us for a consultation.
