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Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer Lexington, MO

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Last Updated: February 20, 2026

Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer, Lexington, MO. If you live in MO, you’ve probably known or been around someone who either concealed or open carried a weapon – the state’s gun & weapon laws allow for more freedom for possession and usage. But just because you have many freedoms to carry weapons, doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want with them.

Many weapon crime charges are felonies, some of which could send you to prison for decades, or even the rest of your life. On your own, without a leading Lexington weapon crimes defense lawyer, you could be looking at lifelong consequences for just protecting yourself and your family.

Save your rights. Guard your freedom. Hire Combs Waterkotte. Our team of Lexington’s leading weapon crimes defense lawyers, including a former prosecutor, has a track record of positive outcomes for our clients. We are committed to giving you the strongest defense possible and will fight to get you the best possible outcome in your weapons charge defense case.

Start your defence right away at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form for a free, confidential consultation.

Cases Handled

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Legal Experience

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Weapon Crime Defense Attorney | Lexington, MO, Weapon Crime Defense


What Do Weapon Laws Cover in Lexington, MO?

MO law covers topics like purchase, possession, and use of guns and other deadly weapons. State laws overlap with federal laws to create a web of regulations. Here’s an interesting example: MO allows gun dealers to sell firearms without performing a background check, but federal law requires licensed dealers to perform one, meaning that if you want to buy a gun in MO, you should still be prepared for a background check.

In MO, lawful individuals are permitted to carry a gun, provided that:

  1. They do not carry it into certain locations, including schools, government buildings, airports, churches, etc., and
  2. Nothing has happened to lead that person to lose their right to carry a weapon.

Firearms usage in the state allows for standard target shooting and for self-defense, but several other activities are illegal. These activities mostly are ones that would put others’ wellbeing at risk, such as firing a gun near a school, bringing one to a polling place during an election, or firing it into a building.

One key thing to be aware of – although we focused on state laws above, MO allows for individual municipalities to set up their own restrictions on weapon possession, so to ensure you’re compliant with regulations in Lexington, be sure to read your local statutes and ask a gun crime lawyer if any parts don’t make sense.

Frequent Weapon Crimes Charges in MO

Even though “weapon crimes” can cover a wide variety of potential allegations and penalties, there are trends in Lexington, MO. Here are some of the most common types of cases that we’ve helped defend at Combs Waterkotte:

Non-Firearm Weapon Laws in MO

It’s also important in MO to be aware of laws for non-firearm self-defense items. Popular self-defense weapons, namely pepper spray and stun guns, can be possessed in MO without special permits.

Other tools, such as knives, blackjacks, and batons, are are more stringently regulated because they are designated as dangerous weapons. With this classification, even though they are not firearms, they frequently have the same limitations, and also cannot be carried into restricted areas.

However, as mentioned above in regards to firearms, different localities can set their own restrictions, so don’t be afraid to ask a Lexington weapons law expert if the law isn’t clear on a given self-defense implement.

MO Weapon Crimes Sentences:

If you’re up against allegations for weapons crimes in MO, you need to call an attorney right away. Here’s what you could be facing if you don’t hire a weapon crimes defense attorney before it’s too late:

Alleged Crime Violation Sentence
Defacing a Firearm Class A Misdemeanor Up to 1 year in jail and a $2,000 fine
Unlawful Transfer of Weapons Up to a Class E Felony Up to 4 years in prison
Fraudulent Firearm Purchase Class E Felony Up to 4 years in prison
Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm Up to a Class D Felony Up to 7 years in prison
Unlawful Possession of a Firearm Up to a Class B Felony 10-20 years in prison
Unlawful Use of a Weapon Up to a Class A Felony Up to 10-30 years or life imprisonment
Armed Criminal Action Unclassified Felony Adds at least 3 years onto a prison sentence, which cannot be avoided with probation or parole

When you look at the potential fallout of a conviction, why would you not hire a Lexington weapon crimes defense lawyer?



What to Look For in a Lexington, MO, Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer

Cases Handled

Over 10,000

Jail Days Saved

Over 1 Million

Google Reviews

500+ Perfect

Legal Experience

Over 80 Years

When you’re hiring a Lexington, MO, weapon crimes defense lawyer, it’s not enough to hire just anyone – you need an attorney who will fight relentlessly for your rights, and won’t stop until you get the justice you deserve.

Here are some of the main things to look for when choosing a lawyer to represent you:

  • Experience: The more practice your lawyer has in the courtroom, the better. Our attorneys has a wealth of experience defending cases just like yours, with a combined more than 60 years of legal experience and over 10,000 cases handled.
  • Reputation: You want to work with someone who is known for success. Combs Waterkotte has a stellar reputation amongst previous clients, fellow attorneys, and professional bodies.
  • Resources: Solo lawyers will try their best, but for serious weapon crimes charges, you want a strong team of skillful individuals on your side.
  • Approach: When you hire a lawyer, you want someone who puts clients first. At Combs Waterkotte, we treat your case as if it were our own, and we don’t leave you in the dark with your case.
  • Fearless Defense: If the case goes to trial, you don’t want someone only half-prepared. You want someone who’s been in this situation before. Our attorneys always construct our defenses as if we’re going to trial, and prosecutors know that – giving us more leverage in plea negotiations.

Weapon Crimes Defenses We Use in Lexington, MO

Weapon crimes will generally progress through the legal system the same way as any other criminal charges. However, these types of cases often hinge on legal defenses like self-defense, and defensive strategies can focus less on if you “did it” and more on whether what the defendant did was “justified.”

In the following list, you can ready about some effective defense strategies Combs Waterkotte might use in your case against Lexington, MO, weapon crimes charges:

  • Self-Defense: Depending on the circumstances, if you claim self-defence, related criminal charges can be invalidated in many cases. In Missouri, you are allowed to take actions to protect yourself from imminent danger.
  • Defense of Others: Just like with self-defense, you can take action to protect another person from harm. Some weapon charges are invalidated if you were protecting another, as they would be with self-defence.
  • Castle Doctrine: MO castle doctrine dictates that you are allowed to use force, including weapons, to protect yourself and those at your residence. While you do not have a duty to retreat, the amount and type of force used must be proportionate to the force of the perceived threat.
  • Stand Your Ground: An extension of the castle doctrine, the stand your ground law in Missouri dictates that you if you are permitted to be in a given location, you have the right to defend yourself (even with weapons and force) without needing to retreat first.
  • Necessity: The defense of necessity acknowledges that you committed the illegal act, but provides an excuse as to why you shouldn’t be punished. Perhaps you stole a weapon that you knew was going to be misused. You could be charged with theft, but your actions were well-intended to prevent a greater harm.
  • Duress: When you unwillingly broke the law, because you were forced to do so, you can claim duress as a defense. An example of this might be if you removed the serial numbers of a firearm, defacing it, but only did so because someone threatened you.
  • Lack of Intent: Some weapon crimes require intent to be guilty. For example, giving a blackjack to an underaged person without permission is illegal. However, if you honestly thought the person was older, you would not have had intent.

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Lexington, MO, Weapon Crimes Defense FAQs

What self-defense weapons are legal in Missouri?

Common self-defense items that you are permitted to use in Missouri include guns, stun guns, tasers, pepper spray, and batons, although some face special restrictions.

If you’re thinking about which device to use, remember that when acting in self-defense, the response must use a level of force proportionate to the threat.

What is the penalty for armed criminal action in Missouri?

Armed criminal action is technically a felony in and of itself, but only occurs when allegedly committing another felony. Any penalties from armed criminal action are on top of the penalties for the related felony, and the sentence depends on whether the person has a criminal history of armed criminal action:

First offense: Adds 3-15 years (or 5-15 years if the gun was illegally possessed)

Second offense: Adds 5-30 years (or 15+ years if the gun was illegally possessed)

Third+ offense: Addes 10+ years (or 15+ years if the gun was illegally possessed)

Additionally, punishments added because of armed criminal action are not eligible for parole or probation.

What is the Castle Doctrine in Missouri?

Missouri castle doctrine is dictated by §563.031, RSMo 2016, which permits the use of force to defend one’s dwelling, residence, or vehicle from aggressors, without first trying to retreat.

However, this does not mean you can shoot someone just for trespassing on your property. The use of deadly force is only justified when facing “the use or imminent use of unlawful force.”

What counts as self-defense in Lexington, MO?

Missouri’s self-defense law permits one to use force to defend against a threat, provided that the defensive force is proportional to the threatening force.

Self-defense is legal in cases where it is used to defend oneself (or others) from harm, when one is unable or not required to retreat, or to protect one’s home/vehicle.

As a stand your ground state, Missouri law makes it so that citizens do not have a duty to retreat from a threatening situation, so long as they have a right to be in that location.

How do I defend against weapons charges in Lexington?

Common defense strategies against allegations of weapon crimes include self-defense, the defense of others, castle doctrine, and stand your ground.

How can you lose your right to own a gun in Lexington?

People in Lexington, MO, can lose their Second Amendment rights in a few ways:

  1. If they receive a felony conviction
  2. If they are a fugitive
  3. If they are regularly drunk or drugged
  4. If they are deemed mentally incompetent
  5. If, in accordance with federal laws, they were convicted of domestic violence, even if it was a misdemeanor.
Can police search your car for weapons without a warrant?

While you are protected from unreasonable searches and seizures, police can still search your car for weapons if they have probable cause, if you give them consent, if they are checking for their safety after an arrest, or if your vehicle is impounded.


Weapons Crime Defense Attorney | Lexington, MO, Weapon Crimes Defense


Looking For a Weapon Crimes Defense Attorney in Lexington, MO? Call Combs Waterkotte As Soon As Possible

Weapon crime charges in Lexington are no joke. When you’re up against them, you can’t settle for anything less than a leading weapon crimes defense lawyer to defend you. You need Combs Waterkotte.

When you hire us, you’re choosing a firm that doesn’t settle for the second-best outcome. Our team is all about getting you good results, and that means fighting to get the best possible outcome for you. We have the resources and skills that it takes to fight weapon crime charges.

Call us right away at (314) 900-HELP or send us a note online for a free, confidential consultation.

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