Black gun owners in Chicago who are law-abiding citizens are finding themselves in handcuffs. They’re also being charged with felonies, and thrown into a legal nightmare despite having valid Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) cards.
Black Gun Owners in Chicago: Arresting Black Residents
The CBS News Chicago investigation highlights the traumatic ordeal of several Black residents. Louis McWilliams, a 46-year-old cheesecake business owner, was pulled over for a minor traffic violation—a missing front license plate. He immediately informed the officers he had a valid CCL and a firearm, just as the law requires.
Despite McWilliams presenting his valid license, officers arrested him. They claimed his CCL didn’t appear in the Illinois State Police (LEADS) database. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office then approved two felony charges against him. The arrest cost him a day in a deplorable jail and a significant business deal. It took him three months in court to get the charges dropped.
Similarly, Lucy Washington, a real estate agent and single mother, was arrested for failing to use a turn signal. She, too, informed officers about her CCL. Officers claimed the database showed her license as expired, even though she had renewed it. Her attempts to show police the renewal confirmation email were ignored. She was arrested and charged with a felony. This charge has threatened her professional license and left her traumatized as her mugshot became attached to her name online.
Black Gun Owners:The True Cost of a Wrongful Arrest
For both McWilliams and Washington, the felony charges were eventually dismissed, but the damage was already done. They faced humiliation, severe emotional distress, and significant financial strain from legal fees. Their professional reputations were damaged, and they lost time and business opportunities they can never get back.
This ordeal shatters the trust between the community and law enforcement. As Washington’s attorney, Brandon Brown, stated, “You’re picking on somebody… who isn’t doing anything criminal… and placing them in jail. And that’s the problem. That’s where the breakdown in trust comes.”
Legal analyst Irv Miller, a former prosecutor, called McWilliams’ case a “legal tragedy,” stating he never should have been charged in the first place, as possessing the physical card is sufficient under Illinois law.
National African American Gun Association (NAAGA) Call for True Justice
These incidents are not isolated. They point to a troubling pattern that the National African American Gun Association (NAAGA) finds frustrating but not surprising. As NAAGA founder Phil Smith noted, there is a clear disparity in how Black gun owners are perceived compared to their white counterparts.
This systemic failure demands a higher standard of justice and accountability. It is a painful reminder that for some, exercising a constitutional right leads not to protection, but to persecution.
Be a Voice for the Voiceless and to Demand Fairness
As believers, we are called to be a voice for the voiceless and to demand fairness where we see injustice. The scriptures are clear on our responsibility to uphold righteousness and protect the vulnerable from oppressive systems.
“In the past Adonai-Tzva’ot said, ‘Administer true justice. Let everyone show mercy and compassion to his brother. Don’t oppress widows, orphans, foreigners or poor people. Don’t plot evil against each other.’”
Z’kharyah [Zechariah] 7:9-10, CJB
The experiences of Louis McWilliams and Lucy Washington are a direct affront to this command. We pray for restoration for these individuals and for a righteous transformation in the systems of justice that have so profoundly failed them.
Source:
Tucker, D., & Assad, S. (2025, October 20). Black gun owners in Chicago charged with felonies despite valid FOID cards, CCLs; say they’re traumatized. CBS News Chicago. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/black-gun-owners-chicago-felonies-foid-ccl/
