by Attorney Eric D. PuryearThe crime of Gunrunning in Illinois is defined by 720 ILCS 5/24-3A as follows:
(a) A person commits gunrunning when he or she transfers 3 or more firearms in violation of any of the paragraphs of Section 24-3 of this Code.
(b) Sentence. A person who commits gunrunning:
(1) is guilty of a Class 1 felony;
(2) is guilty of a Class X felony for which the sentence shall be a term of imprisonment of not less than 8 years and not more than 40 years if the transfer is of not less than 11 firearms and not more than 20 firearms;
(3) is guilty of a Class X felony for which the sentence shall be a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years and not more than 50 years if the transfer is of more than 20 firearms. A person who commits gunrunning by transferring firearms to a person who, at the time of the commission of the offense, is under 18 years of age is guilty of a Class X felony.
The crime of Gunrunning in Illinois committed when a person unlawfully sells or delivers 3 or more guns, in violation of the “Unlawful sale or delivery of firearms” law in Illinois.
The penalties for Gunrunning in Illinois are quite severe, with a person who is convicted potentially facing many decades in prison. For that reason, a person accused of Gunrunning is well advised to seek an attorney at once.