It is legal to possess a variety of guns in Illinois, but there are rules surrounding ownership or possession. There are a few different types of guns that are illegal simply based on the type of gun, such as machine guns. There are also laws about where people can possess firearms. For example, people need to have permits to conceal and carry a gun with them in public.
There are also restrictions on who can possess or own guns as well. For the most part, people need to have a firearm ownership identification card to own a gun and there are number of people who are ineligible for gun ownership. People who do not have one and possess a gun could be charged with crimes.
There are a number of different crimes that people can commit when it comes to illegal gun possession and it really depends on the circumstances. Factors such as if the person is prohibited from owning any gun, whether they simply have it in public without a conceal and carry permit or whether they own an illegal type of gun will determine the type of crime they could be charged with and the potential penalties that people potentially face.
Potential penalties for gun possession charges
The charges could be:
- A Class A misdemeanor, which can result in jail time up to 1 year and a fine of up to $2,500
- A Class 3 felony if it is a second offense, which could result in 5 years of imprisonment
- Class 2, 3 and 4 felonies which could result in a 7-year jail sentence.
- The most serious crimes are classified as Class X felonies and can result in a jail sentence up to 50 years.
There are many laws regarding gun possession and it can be complicated to navigate through them. People charged with various gun possession laws could face serious consequences. There are potential defenses and people are innocent until proven guilty. Experienced attorneys understand these laws and may be a useful resource.