Chicago Gun Lawyer
Weapons Offenses in Illinois
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The Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms, but that right is not unlimited. In Illinois, state laws govern what sorts of weapons, including guns, can be carried, by whom, and where. Compared to many other states, Illinois has fairly restrictive gun laws.
Gun Permits and Licenses to Carry
In Illinois, you must have a license, known as a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card, in order to purchase a gun. Until 2012, state law prohibited carrying a gun (openly or concealed)outside of one’s home, but a federal appellate court decided that the law violated the Second Amendment and struck it down. (Moore v. Madigan, 702 F.3d 933 (7th Cir. 2012).) In 2013, Illinois enacted a new law permitting people to carry concealed weapons with a license. (430 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 66/1 et seq.)
Convicted Felons
In Illinois, people who have been convicted of felonies are barred from obtaining a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card, and without this card, a person cannot obtain a concealed weapon permit or carry a weapon. (430 Ill. Comp. Stat. §§ 65/8, 66/25.)
Prohibited Weapons
Illinois law prohibits a number of weapons, including:
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bludgeons
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blackjacks
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slungshots
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sand clubs and sand bags
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metal knuckles
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throwing stars
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switchblades and ballistic knives
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tear gas and poison gas (except pepper spray)
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silencers
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explosive bullets
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machine guns
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sawed-off shotguns, and
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bombs and grenades.