If you have been charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon also known as UUW, then you will need an experienced weapons attorney that knows how to fight these charges. Most gun charges are felonies in Illinois which are serious offenses if convicted.

Hirsch Law Group has fought thousands of gun cases in Chicago and 12 counties across Illinois including Cook County, DuPage County, Will County, Kendall County, Kankakee County, Boone County, Lake County, McHenry County, Kane County, Winnebago County, DeKalb County and Grundy County.

A person can be charged with unlawful use of a weapon if they:

  1. Carry or possess with intent to use the weapon. This can consist of any kind of dangerous weapon including but not limited to guns, knives, razors, broken glass, stilettos, tasers or a baseball bat etc.
  2. Sell, purchase, manufacture or possess any sling shot, bludgeon, sand bag, metal knuckles, throwing star or switch blade knife that has a blade that opens by hand pressure.
  3. Carries and possess a weapon with intent to use it against someone else in a church, mosque, synagogue, temple or other place of worship.
  4. Carries in person or in a vehicle a tear gar gun projector or any object containing bomb or non-lethal noxious liquid gas or substance made for personal defense such as mace or pepper spray.
  5. Possess a gun, revolver, stun gun, taser or other firearm except when on his own land or property, place of business or invited to another person’s legal dwelling or property. If transporting weapons they need to be broken down and not functioning, not immediately accessible or are unloaded in a case.
  6. Set a spring gun
  7. Possession of a silencer
  8. Sells, purchases, possesses, manufactures or carries:
    •  a machine gun
    • rifle having one or more barrels less then 16 inches in length
    • shotgun having one or more barrels less then 18 inches in length
    • any altered rifle or shotgun with length less than 26 inches
    • bomb, grenade or bottle containing explosive materials over a quarter ounce such as Molotov cocktails.
  9. Possess a deadly weapon such as a gun or taser in an establishment licensed to sell liquor, public gathering or demonstration involving the exhibition of unloaded firearms is conducted. This does not apply to people engaged in firearm safety training courses, firearm auctions or raffles.
  10. Possess a deadly weapon while he or she is hooded, masked or robed in such a manner to conceal their identity.
  11. Carried or possess a weapon in public for the purpose of displaying the weapon.
  12. Manufactures, sells or purchases any explosive bullet
  13. Carries or possess a weapon while in a government building

For more information on unlawful use of a weapon visit 720 ILCS 5/24-1

Award Winning Firearm Attorneys

Our team of experienced weapons attorneys are well versed in the criminal defense of those facing unlawful use of a weapon (UUW) charges. Too often, people that have been charged with UUW did not even intend to break the law, but they got caught and are now facing felony criminal charges. These unfortunate circumstances can affect the rest of their lives if they do not have an attorney experienced in criminal weapons defense. Too often, people facing gun charges do not have quality legal representation which can result in them having to serve many years in prison and becoming a convicted felon.

Conviction of any type of weapons charge can also leave you vulnerable in the future for an Armed Habitual Criminal charge if you run into trouble again. Armed Habitual Criminal is a Class X felony and carries a sentence of 6 – 30 years if convicted. People with multiple weapons convictions are more at risk of facing Armed Habitual Criminal charges.