Does Chicago Really Have the Toughest Gun Laws in the Country?

 Posted on April 06, 2018 in Weapons Charges

The laws surrounding firearms are under constant debate. Social media and politicians alike frequently use Chicago’s notorious criminal history to their advantage in an attempt to sway voters. Somehow, Chicago simultaneously falls on both sides of the gun control debate as a demonstration of the effectiveness of harsher firearm regulations. Meanwhile, Illinois residents find themselves in the middle of this countrywide argument and are left wondering how all of the changes affect current weapons charges.

How Does Illinois Rank?

Chicago became the center of debate once again after a speech claimed that not only did Chicago have the strictest gun laws in the country, but it also has the worst gun violence. Having the most stringent gun laws in the country may have once been valid; however, this is no longer the case.

In 2010, handguns once again became legal within the state followed by the cessation of the state gun law registry in 2013. Without these two laws, Illinois ranks as number 8.

How Do Gun Laws Impact Crime Rate?

When a population increases, so does the frequency of events. For instance, you will likely find a higher number of married individuals in a group of 100 people versus a group of 10. The error of many statistics is that the information only includes the raw data. The size of the test group is not taken into account. Alone, the city of Chicago houses 2.7 million people, versus St. Louis, for example, where the population is 315,000. Once the crime rate involving firearms pairs with the per capita of each city, Chicago does not even rank within the top 10.

What Do the Current Laws Entail?

Theoretically, if our laws are strict enough to consistently catch the attention of the rest of the country, there must be something worth discussing. While there are a few differences, the right to keep and bear arms is firmly alive and well within our state. Notable differences include the necessity of Firearm Owner’s Identification Card (FOID) to purchase any gun or ammunition, and a hold period between the purchase and delivery of a weapon. The theory behind the hold is that reason and emotions have a chance to change should any purchaser have criminal intent at purchase.

Do Not Become an Example

Many judges in our area have an aversion to being seen as too easy on weapons charges; thus, harsher and unfair punishments for those entering the courtroom result. One can even the playing field by having a DuPage County, IL weapons charge defense attorney on his or her side. When the laws look for any reason to make an example of cases involving guns, you will want an experienced and aggressive attorney fighting to defend your rights. Davi Law Group, LLC can help. Call us today to schedule your initial consultation at 630-580-6373.

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/10/17/does-a-city-with-the-toughest-gun-laws-end-up-with-worst-gun-violence/?utm_term=.2fdc828dc3ad

https://www.deseretnews.com/top/1428/2/Illinois-10-states-with-the-strictest-gun-laws.html