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Illinois Compiled Statutes

720 ILCS 5/24-1.7 (2026)

Unlawful possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender

✓ current as of May 2026
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(720 ILCS 5/24-1.7)
    Sec. 24-1.7. Unlawful possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender.
    (a) A person commits the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender if he or she receives, sells, possesses, or transfers any firearm after having been convicted a total of 2 or more times of any combination of the following offenses:
        (1) a forcible felony as defined in Section 2-8 of
    
this Code;
        (2) unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon;
    
aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon; aggravated discharge of a firearm; vehicular hijacking; aggravated vehicular hijacking; aggravated battery of a child as described in Section 12-4.3 or subdivision (b)(1) of Section 12-3.05; intimidation; aggravated intimidation; gunrunning; home invasion; or aggravated battery with a firearm as described in Section 12-4.2 or subdivision (e)(1), (e)(2), (e)(3), or (e)(4) of Section 12-3.05; or
        (3) any violation of the Illinois Controlled
    
Substances Act or the Cannabis Control Act that is punishable as a Class 3 felony or higher.
    (b) Sentence. Unlawful possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender is a Class X felony.
(Source: P.A. 103-822, eff. 1-1-25.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 453 cases (287 in the last 5 years), 2010–2026 · leading case: People v. Brooks, 2023 IL App (1st) 200435 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023).
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People v. Brooks, 2023 IL App (1st) 200435 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). · cites it 6× “On appeal, the defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to convict him, arguing that the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he knowingly possessed a firearm, which resulted in his conviction as an armed habitual criminal.”
People v. McLaurin, 2020 IL 124563 (Ill. 2020). · cites it 3× “OPINION ¶1 This appeal arises from defendant Jasper McLaurin’s conviction of being an armed habitual criminal (720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2014)), following a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County.”
People v. Jones, 2019 IL App (1st) 170478 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). · cites it 3× “OPINION ¶1 Following a bench trial, defendant Anthony Jones was found guilty of eight weapons- related charges, including armed habitual criminal (720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2014)). The court merged all counts into the armed habitual criminal count and sentenced defendant to…”
People v. Dawson, 2022 IL App (1st) 190422 (Ill. App. Ct. 2022). · cites it 8× “720 ILCS 5/24-1.7 (a)(1) (West 2016). ¶ 38 The State in Gray argued that a juvenile, even under today’s law, is still eligible for an adult conviction, if the case is transferred to adult court.”
People v. Travis, 2024 IL App (3d) 230113 (Ill. App. Ct. 2024). · cites it 3× “See 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2020). Defendant contends only that the State failed to prove he possessed an actual firearm.”
People v. Brown, 2017 IL 121681 (Ill. 2017). · cites it 2× “¶ 5 On May 6, 2013, defendant entered a fully negotiated guilty plea to the charge of being an armed habitual criminal in the circuit court of Champaign County.”
People v. Bryant, 2016 IL App (1st) 140421 (Ill. App. Ct. 2016). · cites it 3× “On appeal, defendant contends his sentence should be reduced because the trial court imposed a sentence near the statutory maximum without explaining its reasons for that sentence or considering his rehabilitative No.”
People v. Martin, 2018 IL App (1st) 152249 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). · cites it 5× “See 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7 (West 2012). We find the armed habitual criminal statute does not restrict activity that is at the core of the second amendment, addresses a significant government interest, and has restrictions closely related to that interest.”
People v. Gray, 2021 IL App (1st) 191086 (Ill. App. Ct. 2021). · cites it 4× “OPINION ¶1 A jury found Demetrius Gray guilty of violating the armed habitual criminal provision of the Criminal Code of 2012 (Criminal Code) (720 ILCS 5/24-1.7 (West 2016)). Gray argues on appeal that the trial court should have accepted his guilty plea, he did not get a fair…”
People v. Gray, 2024 IL 127815 (Ill. 2024). · cites it 3× “7(a) of the Criminal Code of 2012 (Code) (720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2016)) for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon (case No.”
People v. Conway, 2023 IL 127670 (Ill. 2023). · cites it 2× “OPINION ¶1 The defendant, Jason Conway, was found guilty of being an armed habitual criminal (720 ILCS 5/24-1.7 (West 2014)) following a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County.”
People v. Coats, 2018 IL 121926 (Ill. 2018). “*1104 ¶ 1 Following a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County, defendant Leshawn Coats was convicted of several offenses, including being an armed habitual criminal ( 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2012)) and armed violence ( id.”
Show all 453 citing cases →
— 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(1) — 2 cases
People v. Wallace, 2023 IL App (1st) 200917 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023).
People v. Wallace, 2023 IL App (1st) 200917-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2023).
— 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) — 323 cases
People v. McLaurin, 2020 IL 124563 (Ill. 2020). “OPINION ¶1 This appeal arises from defendant Jasper McLaurin’s conviction of being an armed habitual criminal (720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2014)), following a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County.”
People v. Jones, 2019 IL App (1st) 170478 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). “OPINION ¶1 Following a bench trial, defendant Anthony Jones was found guilty of eight weapons- related charges, including armed habitual criminal (720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2014)). The court merged all counts into the armed habitual criminal count and sentenced defendant to…”
People v. Coats, 2018 IL 121926 (Ill. 2018). “*1104 ¶ 1 Following a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County, defendant Leshawn Coats was convicted of several offenses, including being an armed habitual criminal ( 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2012)) and armed violence ( id.”
People v. Brown, 2017 IL 121681 (Ill. 2017). “¶ 5 On May 6, 2013, defendant entered a fully negotiated guilty plea to the charge of being an armed habitual criminal in the circuit court of Champaign County.”
People v. Nixon, 2016 IL App (2d) 130514 (Ill. App. Ct. 2016).
— 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a)(1) — 41 cases
People v. Dawson, 2022 IL App (1st) 190422 (Ill. App. Ct. 2022). “720 ILCS 5/24-1.7 (a)(1) (West 2016). ¶ 38 The State in Gray argued that a juvenile, even under today’s law, is still eligible for an adult conviction, if the case is transferred to adult court.”
People v. White, 2016 IL App (2d) 140479 (Ill. App. Ct. 2016).
People v. Matthews, 2022 IL App (4th) 210752 (Ill. App. Ct. 2022).
People v. Smith, 2021 IL App (1st) 200984 (Ill. App. Ct. 2021).
People v. Richards, 2021 IL App (1st) 192154 (Ill. App. Ct. 2021).
— 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a)(2) — 24 cases
People v. Bryant, 2016 IL App (1st) 140421 (Ill. App. Ct. 2016). “On appeal, defendant contends his sentence should be reduced because the trial court imposed a sentence near the statutory maximum without explaining its reasons for that sentence or considering his rehabilitative No.”
People v. Travis, 2024 IL App (3d) 230113 (Ill. App. Ct. 2024). “See 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2020). Defendant contends only that the State failed to prove he possessed an actual firearm.”
People v. Martin, 2018 IL App (1st) 152249 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “See 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7 (West 2012). We find the armed habitual criminal statute does not restrict activity that is at the core of the second amendment, addresses a significant government interest, and has restrictions closely related to that interest.”
People v. Brown, 2023 IL 126852 (Ill. 2023).
People v. Martin, 2018 IL App (1st) 152249 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018).
— 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a)(3) — 15 cases
People v. Dawson, 2022 IL App (1st) 190422 (Ill. App. Ct. 2022). “720 ILCS 5/24-1.7 (a)(1) (West 2016). ¶ 38 The State in Gray argued that a juvenile, even under today’s law, is still eligible for an adult conviction, if the case is transferred to adult court.”
People v. Gray, 2024 IL 127815 (Ill. 2024). “7(a) of the Criminal Code of 2012 (Code) (720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2016)) for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon (case No.”
People v. Gray, 2021 IL App (1st) 191086 (Ill. App. Ct. 2021). “OPINION ¶1 A jury found Demetrius Gray guilty of violating the armed habitual criminal provision of the Criminal Code of 2012 (Criminal Code) (720 ILCS 5/24-1.7 (West 2016)). Gray argues on appeal that the trial court should have accepted his guilty plea, he did not get a fair…”
People v. Martin, 2018 IL App (1st) 152249 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “See 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7 (West 2012). We find the armed habitual criminal statute does not restrict activity that is at the core of the second amendment, addresses a significant government interest, and has restrictions closely related to that interest.”
People v. Martin, 2018 IL App (1st) 152249 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018).
— 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(b) — 45 cases
People v. Brown, 2017 IL 121681 (Ill. 2017). “¶ 5 On May 6, 2013, defendant entered a fully negotiated guilty plea to the charge of being an armed habitual criminal in the circuit court of Champaign County.”
People v. Jones, 2019 IL App (1st) 170478 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). “OPINION ¶1 Following a bench trial, defendant Anthony Jones was found guilty of eight weapons- related charges, including armed habitual criminal (720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2014)). The court merged all counts into the armed habitual criminal count and sentenced defendant to…”
People v. Travis, 2024 IL App (3d) 230113 (Ill. App. Ct. 2024). “See 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(a) (West 2020). Defendant contends only that the State failed to prove he possessed an actual firearm.”
People v. Bryant, 2016 IL App (1st) 140421 (Ill. App. Ct. 2016). “On appeal, defendant contends his sentence should be reduced because the trial court imposed a sentence near the statutory maximum without explaining its reasons for that sentence or considering his rehabilitative No.”
People v. Sherman, 2020 IL App (1st) 172162 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020).
— 720 ILCS 5/24-1.7(d) — 1 case
People v. Kent, 2021 IL App (1st) 191156-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2021).
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