Chicago Handgun Law Could Be Struck Down
Chicago’s citywide handgun ban is the strictest in the nation but that law stands to be struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court this term.
Last spring the Court of the land struck down a similar law in Washington D.C. but that ruling only applied to Federal laws. The difference with Chicago’s ban: it is a city law.
Because Washington D.C. is a different sort of legal entity, not being a state, the laws here are slightly different. While the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms, the states and cities throughout the country can regulate that right.
The question that the U.S. Supreme Court must answer is does the city of Chicago have the right to restrict hand gun ownership to its citizens or does this go against what the Constitution guarantees in the 2nd Amendment.
According to this article from the Chicago Sun-Times many people on both sides of the argument believe the law won’t last long and some even think the crime rate could go down if the law was overturned.
The current handgun ban results in many cases every year that wouldn’t happen if the ban was not in place. In addition, as the article points out, some citizens believe property crimes in the city may go down as would be offenders realize the person they steal from may have a weapon.
The argument exists that whether or not handguns are illegal, they are still out there. People still have them in their homes. The only difference is that with the ban in place, they cannot purchase them legally, leading some to trade on the black market, creating an underground of illegal weapons.
Gun laws are extensive with or without the handgun ban. There are many laws both at the state and local levels to regulate what weapons can be owned, how they can be carried, in what circumstances they can be used, and how they can legally change hands.
The opportunities for law violations when it comes to these sort of weapons are numerous. You could be charged with a relatively minor misdemeanor or a far more serious felony gun violation.
If you have found yourself on the wrong side of the law concerning a firearm you know just how stringent some of these laws can be. Whether you were caught in possession of a handgun within the city limits of Chicago or if you are charged with another weapons offense within the state of Illinois, I may be able to help.
Contact me today to discuss the details of your case.
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