The Firearm Concealed Carry Act was placed into law last summer. It is no longer enough to carry a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOI) Card to carry or own a concealed weapon. A person must meet several requirements to be qualified for a license to carry a concealed firearm or they may be arrested for weapons charges. The applicant: must be at least 21 years of age must have a current, valid FOI Card when applying for the license must not be prohibited under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act from having or receiving a firearm must not have any convictions or be found guilty …

Joe McMahon, Kane County State’s Attorney, believes in the power of the diversion programs available for criminals. Currently, that belief is based on anecdotal evidence and internal review, so McMahon believes that further research is needed to test the short and long-term effects of diversion programs. Diversion programs are growing in popularity as a means of punishment or those arrested for criminal activity. The State’s Attorney’s Office will have some real numbers at the beginning of next year, based on research conducted in a partnership with the Illinois Criminal Justice …

According to the Chicago mayor, the current Illinois unlawful weapon law and punishment is not strict enough to combat gun violence across the city. Right now, a charged individual can face a prison term of up to three years if caught using a weapon unlawfully. Some, however, only serve half that time, and others go through probation or boot camp as part of the sentence. Being charged with unlawful use of a weapon is a serious matter, and it’s recommended that you contact a criminal attorney as soon as possible after you are charged. Mayor Rahm Emanuel says that the current law includes …

Many parents of teenagers struggle with the question of whether it would be better to allow their child to drink “responsibly” at home under parental supervision than to let them go out, believing their child will be drinking anyway.  The intentions are understandable.  You want to keep your child safe.  However, you should really consider the consequences of your decision. If you allow your child to drink in your home, your child could perceive this as tacit approval for all underage drinking.   Underage drinking is a very dangerous activity for an adolescent to …