Requirements to Purchase or Own a Firearm in Chicago

Chicago Firearm Permit and Firearms Owner's Identification Card Requirements

Chicago has the toughest gun laws in the country. It also has some of the highest rates of weapons violations and violent crime involving guns. Until recently, there was a complete ban on the sale, ownership, and possession of firearms in the city. The ban was struck down by the Supreme Court, citing a Second Amendment violation. The laws regarding possession and use are still extremely strict, and if you are found to be in violation of the municipal regulations or state law, you could be facing 6 months in jail and $10,000 in fines at the minimum. A Chicago criminal defense attorney at the Law Offices of Mitch Furman and Associates can give you more information if you have been charged with a weapons violation.

In order to obtain a Chicago Firearm Permit (CFP) and a Firearms Owner's Identification Card (FOID), an individual must meet certain requirements, as per federal, state, and municipal law.

• The individual must be over the age of 21 and a legal U.S. resident. If the individual is younger than 21, he or she may apply for a FOID if they have written consent from a parent who is eligible for a FOID if he or she has never been convicted of a juvenile crime other than a misdemeanor traffic offense.
• The individual must not be a convicted felon, under indictment for a felony crime, mentally retarded, a narcotics addict, a dishonorably discharged veteran, a fugitive, a gang member, or currently imprisoned.
• Additionally, the individual must not have in the past five years been committed to a mental institution or convicted of domestic battery or a violent crime, multiple DUIs, or a violation of an order of protection. The individual must not have had an order of protection against him or her within the past two years.
• The individual must have completed five hours of weapons training, including four hours of classroom training and one hour of practical training.

Contact a Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney if you are facing criminal charges for a weapons violation and you require skilled, experienced legal representation.