Illinois has strict gun laws. If you are facing weapons violation charges in Illinois, it is critical that you partner with an experienced Illinois weapons violations attorney. Call our Chicago crime attorneys today at (312) 466-9466.
The most serious type of firearms violation is a felon in possession of a firearm. This usually results in a charge of Unlawful Use of Weapon by a Felon. See 720 ILCS 5/24-1.1.
The penalty for this offense depends on the seriousness of the underlying conviction. For example, a person who has a felony conviction for a Class 4 Possession of a Controlled Substance offense has committed a Class 3 felony, with a sentencing range of 2 to 10 years. But a person who has a conviction in his background of a forcible felony will face a Class 2 felony with a sentencing range of 3 to 14 years. To determine your situation you should consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney such as Steven R. Hunter.
An individual who has two prior felony convictions for either a forcible felony, a controlled substance offense which is a Class 3 felony or greater, or one of a list of violent crimes in 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a)(2) will be accused of being an Armed Habitual Criminal. This is a Class X felony that carries a sentencing range of 6-30 years with no possibility of probation.