McHenry County Gun and Weapon Charges Defense Attorney

Amendment Violations Lawyer Serving Lake in the Hills, Algonquin and Huntley

Illinois gun laws are complicated, and often times, law-abiding citizens inadvertently end up in legal trouble. This can occur even for activities as innocuous as transporting an unloaded firearm without being in possession of your firearm owner identification (FOID) card. Gun violations often carry stiff penalties, including revocation of your FOID card, heavy fines, and even jail time. With so much on the line, it is essential to have a strong criminal defense attorney in your corner fighting aggressively to defend your rights.

At Owens Law, LLC, we have experience defending clients charged with gun and amendment violations. Our attorney is thorough, aggressive, and meticulous. As both a former prosecutor and a defense attorney who has served as lead counsel and obtained successful verdicts in numerous jury trials involving first degree murder and capital punishment, he puts his extensive experience in criminal defense to work to provide skilled representation for each client he serves. With an in-depth knowledge of the common tactics used by law enforcement and prosecutors to charge citizens with gun violations, we take strong and preemptive actions to thwart these tactics and position our clients for favorable outcomes.

Penalties for Gun Violations

In Illinois, gun violations fall into one of three general categories:

• Unlawful Use of a Weapon (UUW): A Class A misdemeanor with sentences of up to one year in county jail and fines of up to $2,500.
• Aggravated UUW: A Class 4 Felony with sentences of one to three years in prison and fines of up to $25,000.
• UUW by a Felon: A Class 3 Felony with a minimum of two years in prison and fines of up to $25,000.

Up until 2012, it was against the law to carry a gun (openly or concealed) outside the home of the individual. This law was struck down by a federal appellate court as a Second Amendment violation. Despite this rebuke by a federal court, state laws remain complex, and law enforcement officials routinely look for ways to charge an individual with a gun violation. Many such cases result from traffic stops and police searches that violate the 4th Amendment prohibition against illegal search and seizure. From the inception of the case, we utilize the protections citizens are afforded by the Illinois Constitution and the U.S. Constitution to aggressively challenge the actions of law enforcement. Using preemptive challenges, we are often able to effectively counter police overreach and achieve success early on in a case.

FOID Card Reinstatements

In many cases, FOID cards are revoked because of unfortunate circumstances. For example, a heated discussion between spouses or significant others can escalate into a domestic violence charge, and the accused can be hit with an order of protection. This order results in the automatic forfeiture of your FOID card. Later, if charges are dropped, you still need to go through several steps to have your FOID card reinstated.

At Owens Law, LLC, we provide skilled and aggressive representation for those charged with gun violations, and we can also guide you through the necessary steps to reinstate your FOID card. For a personalized consultation with our experienced gun and amendment violations lawyer, contact our office today at 847-854-8700. We serve clients in Lake in the Hills, Algonquin, Gurnee, Huntley, Barrington, Round Lake Beach, Crystal Lake, Lake County, McHenry County, Cook County DuPage County, Will County, Kane County, and Rockford.