{"id":223594,"date":"2025-10-22T14:05:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T19:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=223594"},"modified":"2025-10-22T14:05:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T19:05:22","slug":"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/","title":{"rendered":"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-estimated-reading-time yoast-reading-time__wrapper\"><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-icon=\"clock\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:-0.1em\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__spacer\" style=\"display:inline-block;width:1em\"><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__descriptive-text\">Estimated reading time: <\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__reading-time\">3<\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__time-unit\"> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>CBS Chicago<\/em> just aired a tough watch: licensed Black gun owners pulled over, upfront about their firearms, cards in hand then booked on felonies when a database didn\u2019t show their credentials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The report, by<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-Xewf-EVmGc\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\" title=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\"> investigator Dorothy Tucker,<\/a> walks through two cases and a bigger pattern question that should bother every lawful gun owner in Illinois.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Black gun owners in Chicago charged with felonies despite valid FOIDs, CCLs\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/x6yhk8OEsqk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It starts with entrepreneur<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/chicago\/news\/black-gun-owners-chicago-felonies-foid-ccl\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\" title=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\"> Lewis McWilliams<\/a>, stopped on West 79th for a missing front plate. He immediately disclosed his firearm and handed over his credentials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Per the segment, \u201cThis is Lewis\u2019s card and it\u2019s valid. That\u2019s what he handed the officers.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet on the squad-car audio, an officer says, \u201cConcealed <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/springfield-armory-hellcat-380\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\" title=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"829\">carry<\/a>. It didn\u2019t pop up.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/michigan-police-officer-may-face-civil-felony-charges-for-pulling-gun-on-delivery-driver\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\" title=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"833\">Police recommended two felony charges<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>McWilliams: \u201cThis has been very traumatic for me. I feel like my rights was violated.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He spent 24 hours in jail\u2014\u201cIt was just deplorable. There were roaches falling from the ceiling.\u201d\u2014missed a make-or-break business meeting, and fought for months to get the case tossed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the kicker. CBS asked <a data-wpil-monitor-id=\"831\" href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/saf-sues-illinois-state-police-failure-ccl-applications\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\" title=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\">Illinois State Police<\/a> what to do when a driver presents a valid card but the LEADS <a href=\"https:\/\/isp.illinois.gov\/LawEnforcement\/LEADS3dot0\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\" title=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\">database<\/a> doesn\u2019t show it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The answer they received: \u201cThe officers should not take any <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/the-mil-leo-only-guns-from-your-favorite-companies\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\" title=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"830\">law enforcement<\/a> action as it relates to a potential FOID CCL violation.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-see-also-glock-confirms-v-series\">SEE ALSO: <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/glock-confirms-v-series\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\" title=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\">Glock Confirms V Series!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet prosecutors still initially approved the charges. Former Cook County <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sZriRTaErN0\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\" title=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\">prosecutor Irv Miller<\/a> was direct: \u201cHe never should have been charged\u2026 He showed them a valid CCL card. Not only did they see it, they actually took possession of it and inventoried it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The report then follows Lucy Washington, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DQDUeoKj1LC\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\" title=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\">stopped<\/a> for a turn-signal issue. She disclosed her firearm and CCL status, but her renewal hadn\u2019t populated in the system. She tried to show the renewal email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt says if you applied for renewal, you\u2019re eligible to possess a license,&#8221; per the report. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Officers repeated, \u201cIt\u2019s not in our system, Lucy. It\u2019s not in our system.\u201d She was arrested on a felony that was later dismissed and expunged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the damage lingered: \u201cIf you search a property that is in my name, my mug shot shows up next to it. It\u2019s embarrassing, you know? How do I explain to someone like, oh, no, I was innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Phil Smith, president of the National African American Gun Association (<a href=\"https:\/\/naaga.co\/how-it-started\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\" title=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\">NAAGA<\/a>), connected the dots to lived experience: \u201cOutrage anger, frustration. Not again\u2026 another Black person being stopped illegally, being arrested illegally when they\u2019ve had all their stuff together.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He added, \u201cIf you look at other communities, they have firearms all over the place and it\u2019s okay. They go to Macy\u2019s, they go to Walmart, they go shoot and hunt and it\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-few-takeaways-for-illinois-carriers\">A Few Takeaways for Illinois Carriers:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You need both a FOID and a CCL to have a handgun with you in the car, and Illinois carriers know that. But database latency (LEADS not showing your status) is apparently real\u2014and, per the state response <em>CBS<\/em> says it received, shouldn\u2019t trigger enforcement action for FOID\/CCL violations when you\u2019ve presented valid proof.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Even when charges are dismissed, the time, money, mug shots, impounds, and expungements don\u2019t just vanish for the citizen who did everything right.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>CBS<\/em> says Chicago Police Superintendent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.policeforum.org\/trending3may25\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\" title=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\">Larry Snelling<\/a> declined an interview; the State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office and Illinois State Police also declined to be interviewed. McWilliams and Washington are <em>still waiting<\/em> to get their legally purchased guns back from CPD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All of this raises the question, if the state\u2019s own guidance says \u201cshould not take any law enforcement action\u201d in that situation, why are <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/feds-targeted-lawful-gun-owners-in-sweeping-domestic-terror-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\" title=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"832\">lawful gun owners<\/a> ending up in cuffs? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong><em>*** <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\" title=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica!<\/a> ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All of this raises the question, if the state\u2019s own guidance says \u201cshould not take any law enforcement action\u201d in that situation, why are lawful gun owners ending up in cuffs? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":158,"featured_media":223605,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4024],"tags":[132,607,122],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-223594","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-buzz","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-r2kba"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>CBS Chicago: Valid CCW, Felony Charges Anyway<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CBS Chicago probe asks why licensed African American concealed carriers face felonies, impounds, and long expungements.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"All of this raises the question, if the state\u2019s own guidance says \u201cshould not take any law enforcement action\u201d in that situation, why are lawful gun owners ending up in cuffs?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-22T19:05:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-22T19:05:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Chicago_Black_Gun_Owners_FOID.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Larry Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/GunsAmerica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Larry Z\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Larry Z\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e6de4369965cb544a9ebd9533bb9c06b\"},\"headline\":\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-22T19:05:14+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-22T19:05:22+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":638,\"commentCount\":3,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/Chicago_Black_Gun_Owners_FOID.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Buzz\",\"News\",\"R2KBA\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\\\/\",\"name\":\"CBS Chicago: Valid CCW, Felony Charges Anyway\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/Chicago_Black_Gun_Owners_FOID.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-22T19:05:14+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-22T19:05:22+00:00\",\"description\":\"CBS Chicago probe asks why licensed African American concealed carriers face felonies, impounds, and long expungements.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/Chicago_Black_Gun_Owners_FOID.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/Chicago_Black_Gun_Owners_FOID.jpg\",\"width\":900,\"height\":600,\"caption\":\"CBS Chicago: Licensed Black gun owners in Illinois cuffed despite valid FOID\\\/CCL\u2014LEADS database errors, felony charges later dismissed, lives upended.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/\",\"name\":\"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\\\/Digest\",\"description\":\"Gun Reviews, Industry News, and Product Reviews for Rifles, Pistols, Revolvers, Shotguns, Optics, and Ammunition. Looking to purchase a firearm online? Look no further than GunsAmerica.com, America&#039;s premier destination for buying and selling firearms.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"GunsAmerica\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/image-3.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/image-3.png\",\"width\":286,\"height\":156,\"caption\":\"GunsAmerica\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/gunsamerica\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/gunsamerica\",\"https:\\\/\\\/instagram.com\\\/gunsamerica_official\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/GunsAmerica\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e6de4369965cb544a9ebd9533bb9c06b\",\"name\":\"Larry Z\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/5a69271fff458c0181bcf97d84275180a0fb536786a6dd417d0618e9688be035?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/5a69271fff458c0181bcf97d84275180a0fb536786a6dd417d0618e9688be035?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/5a69271fff458c0181bcf97d84275180a0fb536786a6dd417d0618e9688be035?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Larry Z\"},\"description\":\"is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who'd rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he\u2019s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he's deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there's a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry\u2019s got an opinion\u2014and it's probably backed up with both facts and field experience. Experience: \u2013 Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper \u2013 Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.\u2013 Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS &amp; AZ) \u2013 Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.\u2013 2A Journalist \u2013 Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.\u2013 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) \u2013 Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.\u2013 Field-Tested Gear Reviewer \u2013 Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/hunt365.gunsamerica.com\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/gunsamerica\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/gunsamerica_official\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/https:\\\/\\\/twitter.com\\\/GunsAmerica\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/GunsAmerica\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/author\\\/larry-z\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"CBS Chicago: Valid CCW, Felony Charges Anyway","description":"CBS Chicago probe asks why licensed African American concealed carriers face felonies, impounds, and long expungements.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway","og_description":"All of this raises the question, if the state\u2019s own guidance says \u201cshould not take any law enforcement action\u201d in that situation, why are lawful gun owners ending up in cuffs?","og_url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/","og_site_name":"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica","article_published_time":"2025-10-22T19:05:14+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-22T19:05:22+00:00","og_image":[{"width":900,"height":600,"url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Chicago_Black_Gun_Owners_FOID.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Larry Z","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/GunsAmerica","twitter_site":"@gunsamerica","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Larry Z","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/"},"author":{"name":"Larry Z","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/person\/e6de4369965cb544a9ebd9533bb9c06b"},"headline":"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway","datePublished":"2025-10-22T19:05:14+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-22T19:05:22+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/"},"wordCount":638,"commentCount":3,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Chicago_Black_Gun_Owners_FOID.jpg","keywords":["Buzz","News","R2KBA"],"articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/","name":"CBS Chicago: Valid CCW, Felony Charges Anyway","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Chicago_Black_Gun_Owners_FOID.jpg","datePublished":"2025-10-22T19:05:14+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-22T19:05:22+00:00","description":"CBS Chicago probe asks why licensed African American concealed carriers face felonies, impounds, and long expungements.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Chicago_Black_Gun_Owners_FOID.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Chicago_Black_Gun_Owners_FOID.jpg","width":900,"height":600,"caption":"CBS Chicago: Licensed Black gun owners in Illinois cuffed despite valid FOID\/CCL\u2014LEADS database errors, felony charges later dismissed, lives upended."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/valid-ccw-felony-charges-anyway\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"CBS Chicago: Blacks with Valid CCWs Face Felony Charges Anyway"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#website","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/","name":"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest","description":"Gun Reviews, Industry News, and Product Reviews for Rifles, Pistols, Revolvers, Shotguns, Optics, and Ammunition. Looking to purchase a firearm online? Look no further than GunsAmerica.com, America&#039;s premier destination for buying and selling firearms.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#organization","name":"GunsAmerica","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-3.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-3.png","width":286,"height":156,"caption":"GunsAmerica"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica","https:\/\/x.com\/gunsamerica","https:\/\/instagram.com\/gunsamerica_official\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/GunsAmerica"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/person\/e6de4369965cb544a9ebd9533bb9c06b","name":"Larry Z","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5a69271fff458c0181bcf97d84275180a0fb536786a6dd417d0618e9688be035?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5a69271fff458c0181bcf97d84275180a0fb536786a6dd417d0618e9688be035?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5a69271fff458c0181bcf97d84275180a0fb536786a6dd417d0618e9688be035?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Larry Z"},"description":"is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who'd rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he\u2019s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he's deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there's a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry\u2019s got an opinion\u2014and it's probably backed up with both facts and field experience. Experience: \u2013 Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper \u2013 Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.\u2013 Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS &amp; AZ) \u2013 Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.\u2013 2A Journalist \u2013 Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.\u2013 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) \u2013 Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.\u2013 Field-Tested Gear Reviewer \u2013 Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.","sameAs":["https:\/\/hunt365.gunsamerica.com","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gunsamerica_official\/","https:\/\/x.com\/https:\/\/twitter.com\/GunsAmerica","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/GunsAmerica"],"url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/author\/larry-z\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Chicago_Black_Gun_Owners_FOID-150x100.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/158"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=223594"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223594\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":223609,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223594\/revisions\/223609"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/223605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=223594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=223594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=223594"},{"taxonomy":"featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured?post=223594"},{"taxonomy":"hunt365","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hunt365?post=223594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}