What You Need to Know About Illinois Gun Laws

 Posted on March 10, 2018 in Uncategorized

Gun laws have long been a hotly-debated subject throughout the country. After the tragic events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, there has been an increase in debate regarding gun laws in the United States. Gun laws can vary from state to state and Illinois gun laws are some of the strictest in the nation. It is important that Illinois residents inform themselves regarding their state’s approach to gun control.

Machine Guns

There has been a lot of misinformation circulating regarding automatic weapons. In Illinois, it is illegal to sell, purchase, manufacture, possess, or carry a machine gun. More specifically the law prohibits the type of gun “which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot without manually reloading by a single function of the trigger, including the frame or receiver of any such weapon.” In other words, any firearm that can fire more than one round by holding down the trigger is illegal to buy, sell, own, or carry in Illinois.

It is important to note that none of the recent mass shootings were conducted with a machine gun or “assault weapon”, that is, a firearm that allows multiple shots to be fired with the one time pull of a trigger.

Bump Stocks

After the horrific Las Vegas shooting in October which left 58 dead, there was a lot of talk in the media about “ bump stocks.” A bump stock is an accessory which can be added to a semi-automatic rifle that allows it to fire at a much faster speed. Bump stocks, like those linked to the Las Vegas shooting, are not banned under federal law.

The Illinois House has moved quickly since the Parkland shooting, recently passing a bill to ban "bump stocks" and to raise the age of possession or purchase of "assault style weapons" to the age of 21. Of course, there has been much disagreement over what constitutes an “assault weapon,” as firearm manufacturers do not label or market any particular type of gun as such.

What is Required of Gun Owners?

Someone who wishes to purchase a gun in Illinois must first show his or her Firearms Owner's Identification Card. In order to qualify for a FOID card, the applicant must submit to a criminal background check and meet other qualifications. For example, a person who has been involuntarily commit to a mental health facility or those convicted of a felony may not be able to receive a FOID card.

If you have been charged with a crime related to the use or possession of a weapon, you need an aggressive Will County weapons defense attorney who will fight on your behalf. Contact the Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba, P.C. today by calling 815-740-4025">815-740-4025.