Weapons, Threats, and Violence: Illinois Weapons Defense

Mere possession of weapons can have a detrimental effect on your future if you are one of the thousands of individuals that is not permitted to carry a weapon under the law. While everyone has a right to bear arms, this right may be taken away or limited by the government if you are a convicted felon, faced domestic violence charges, are mentally incompetent, or have other previous offenses the government deems makes you unfit to carry freely.

Limitations on Carrying Generally

Consider also that such restrictions mean you cannot carry any enumerated weapon under the law, legal or illegal. If you were carrying unlawful weapons before, these restrictions do not mean now you can only carry lawful ones. Illinois places restrictions on items such as automatic firearms, silencers, or short-barreled shotguns generally. Just because someone is willing to sell you a weapon does not mean you are allowed to possess it, even if it is something a non-felon could lawfully own.

Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

The punishment for unlawful possession of a weapon escalates significantly when that weapon is used or carried during the commission of a crime. For example, assault and battery are both serious criminal offenses that can range from misdemeanors to felonies depending on the severity. Assault involves a perceived threat that falls short of actual contact, where battery is when physical contact is actually accomplished by the offender. An assault or battery conviction can lead to hefty fines and significant jail time. However, if a weapon was used during the commission of either of these crimes, it raises the crime from assault or battery to aggravated assault or battery, which is a significantly more serious offense.

Consider what this means in an assault case; simply having a weapon on your person when you threatened or intimidated others to the point they believed they were going to be hit can lead to escalated charges that can ruin your life. In a battery case, you may not even use the weapon, but having it with you may increase your sentence immensely. Using the firearm during these events may lead to even more serious charges, such as murder or manslaughter. The risk of using these weapons increases when they are accessible, thus the rationale behind preventing convicted felons from being able to lawfully obtain weapons. Carrying a weapon is also a sure way to violate your probation in many circumstances; do not let carrying a weapon you did not even intend to use put a roadblock to your future.

Illinois Weapons Defense Lawyers

Facing weapons charges can have a detrimental impact on your family, home, work, and financial well-being. If you or someone you know is facing weapons charges, or aggravated assault and battery charges, retaining an experienced DuPage County weapons defense attorney is the best way to ensure your rights will be protected. At Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, P.C., our team knows how to navigate these types of cases in the legal system, while preserving your confidentiality, dignity, and taking into consideration the impact on your future. With convenient offices in both Oak Brook and Naperville, we are always available to hear your side of the story. Contact us at 630-472-9700 and allow us to help protect your legal rights.