Weapons

Owning and possessing a gun or other weapon is not illegal. In fact, the right to own a gun is a very important right that is protected by the Second Amendment of the United States’ Constitution. Despite the fact that owning a gun or weapon is not illegal, however, there are certain types of behavior and actions that can constitute a violation of the law. When you engage in these types of behaviors, you may face weapons charges.

Weapons charges can result in either a felony or a misdemeanor conviction depending upon the type of offense you committed. In every case, however, you’ll have a criminal record if convicted of a weapons offense and your right to own a weapon in the future may be affected as well. To avoid the serious consequences associated with weapons charges, which may even include jail time, it is very important to get legal help from an experienced lawyer. At the Pennsylvania criminal defense form of Lawrence R. Dworkin, we have represented many clients facing weapons charges and we can put our legal knowledge and decades of experience to work for you.

Pennsylvania Laws on Weapons

There are a variety of different types of behavior related to weapons that are considered illegal in the state of Pennsylvania. Examples including:

• Carrying a concealed weapon without proper permits
• Transporting a concealed/loaded weapon in a vehicle
• Committing assault crimes using a deadly weapon such as a gun or a knife
• Being in possession of a firearm or gun that hasn’t been properly registered or that wasn’t purchased through legal channels
• Pulling your gun and pointing it at someone or using it in a threatening or careless manner (in legal terms, this is known as brandishing your firearm)
• Having a gun even though your previous felony convictions make it illegal for you to possess one
• Selling guns to minors or otherwise selling guns illegally without following all proper rules and regulations
• Illegally discharging (firing) your weapon
• Possessing various types of prohibited weapons including machine guns or assault riffles

If you commit any of these offenses, you can be charged under Pennsylvania law. For certain weapons offenses, such as possessing a machine gun or a gun silencer, you may also face federal criminal charges and be tried in federal court and subject to harsher penalties.

Getting Legal Help for Pennsylvania Weapons Offenses

Weapons offenses are serious charges with serious consequences. As such, you should speak with a criminal defense attorney about possible options for defending yourself against the charges. For instance, if your home or property was illegally searched without probable cause, any evidence acquired—including the fact that you had an illegal gun—may be suppressed (kept out of court) as a result of the violation of your constitutional rights.

Your criminal defense lawyer will help you to determine if a constitutional rights defense or any other type of defense is available to you to help you avoid conviction for weapons charges. When avoiding conviction is not possible, your attorney can help you to negotiate a plea deal to minimize the penalties and long-term consequences of the charges against you.

To learn more about how the Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyers at the law firm of Lawrence R. Dworkin can help, contact us today using our online form or via phone at 610-357-3506.