Can I Own a Gun After a Sex Crime Conviction in Illinois? Combs Waterkotte attorneys Christopher Combs and Joshua Boardman discuss everything you need to know about Illinois sex crime charges, including sexual assault, sexual abuse, rape, and more.
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Interview Transcript
Scott Michael Dunn: Can I own a gun with a sex crime charge in Illinois?
Joshua Boardman: If you’ve been convicted of a sex crime in Illinois that gives rise to … The evaluation is not necessarily whether it’s a sex crime or not. The evaluation of whether or not you are convicted is whether or not you are convicted of a felony. If you were convicted of a felony under state laws and then likely federal law would come into play, too. You are not lawfully able to possess a firearm. So, possession of a firearm, ownership of a firearm, much of that is semantics because if you’ve been convicted of a felony, then no, you’re not able to.
Christopher Combs: It’s a little bit more straightforward. I know you’re saying, allegations…
Dunn: Which one? You can get your FOID card taken away for allegations. You could lose your rights to gun ownership for allegations or for charges.
Combs: Sure. I think the simple way to look at it is if you’re convicted of a felony, you’re not possessing firearms. That’s one kind of straightforward way to look at it. However, there are nuances and that’s again, why you want to speak to an attorney, to see your rights of carrying a firearm and having a FOID card.
