Most gun owners are responsible, law-abiding people who comply with the rules and know how to possess and handle guns safely. However, laws and regulations regarding the ownership, possession, and use of firearms can be complex. Sometimes even the best-intentioned gun owner may misunderstand a nuance of the law or forget to fill out the right paperwork. When that happens, you may find yourself charged with a criminal firearms offense.
If you’ve been charged with a firearms crime, you’re likely feeling a significant amount of stress and uncertainty about what’s going to happen to you — especially if your charge is based on a simple mistake or if you’re innocent of any wrongdoing at all. In order to avoid or minimize the consequences of a conviction, you need the help of an experienced Sarasota crime defense lawyer.
Florida Firearms Charges
Florida statutes include a lengthy list of potential criminal charges related to weapons and firearms. Erika Valcarcel, Criminal Defense Lawyer, P.A. can handle any type of weapons charge that you face, including:
Carrying a Concealed Weapon
It’s legal in Florida to carry a concealed weapon with an appropriate license. However, if you’re suspected of carrying a concealed weapon without a license, you can be charged with a serious misdemeanor crime. If the weapon is a firearm, you can be charged with a felony. The potential penalty includes a prison sentence and significant fines.
Discharging a Firearm
It’s a serious misdemeanor offense to fire a weapon in a public place, on a street, or over a residence. It’s a felony when you’re suspected of firing a weapon from a vehicle within 1,000 feet of a person. A conviction can result in a jail or prison sentence and fines.
Illegal Possession of a Firearm
Certain people are prohibited from possessing firearms in Florida, including convicted felons, people who are the subject of an anti-harassment order, people convicted of domestic violence, drug addicts, people judged mentally incompetent, unlawful immigrants, and people dishonorably discharged from the military. If you fall into one of these categories and are suspected of possessing a firearm, you can be charged with a crime. An illegal possession of a firearm offense can be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances.