Image

Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer Peculiar, MO

Verified Content

Last Updated: February 20, 2026

Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer, Peculiar, MO. Weapons, both concealed and open carry, are popular in MO – if you live in Missouri, you have a lot of options for legal weapons and self-defense tools. But just because you have many freedoms to carry weapons, doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want with them.

Several weapon crime charges are felonies, and a conviction could put you behind bars for years. If you don’t have a leading Peculiar weapon crimes defense lawyer, you could be looking at lifelong consequences for just acting in self defense.

Protect your life. Safeguard your freedom. Hire Combs Waterkotte. Our team of leading criminal defense attorneys, including a former prosecutor, has more than 80 years of combined legal experience. We do not compromise on the quality of your defense and will fight to get you the best possible outcome in your weapons charge defense case.

Get in touch today at (314) 900-HELP or tell us about your case online for a free, confidential consultation.

Cases Handled

Over 10,000

Jail Days Saved

Over 1 Million

Google Reviews

500+ Perfect

Legal Experience

Over 80 Years

Weapon Crime Defense Attorney | Peculiar, MO, Weapon Crime Defense


How Do Weapon Laws Work in Peculiar, MO?

MO law defines what you can and can’t do with guns and other weapons. These are all in addition to federal laws, which also set rules for weapons. Here’s an interesting example: MO does not address background checks in the sale or transfer of firearms, 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, most citizens are permitted to carry a self-defense weapon, so long as:

  1. They do not carry it into certain locations, including schools, government buildings, airports, churches, etc., and
  2. They have not lost their right to carry a firearm.

Firearms usage in the state allows for standard target shooting and for self-defense, but certain uses are not legal. These actions mostly are those that would endanger others, such as threatening someone with a firearm, firing one over a highway, or using one while committing another crime.

One thing to note before we move on – so far, this page has mainly covered state laws above, MO allows for individual localities to enforce their own laws related to weapons, so to make sure you’re following Peculiar laws, be sure to go over your local statutes and consult with a gun crime lawyer if there’s any part you’re having trouble understanding.

Common Weapon Crimes Charges in MO

Peculiar, MO weapon crime charges cover a wide range of alleged crimes, but some charges are more common than others. Here are some of our specialty areas that we’ve fought cases for in MO:

Other Types of Weapon Laws in MO

Peculiar, MO laws don’t stop at guns, though: You also need to be aware of restrictions for non-firearm self-defense items. Popular self-defense devices, such as 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 labelled as deadly weapons. With this classification, even though they are not firearms, they typically face the same regulations, and also have limitations on where they can be carried.

However, as mentioned above in regards to firearms, different localities are allowed to establish different regulations, so get in touch with a Peculiar weapons law expert if the law isn’t clear on a specific 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 Peculiar weapon crimes defense lawyer?



What to Look For in a Peculiar, 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 deciding on a Peculiar, MO, weapon crimes defense attorney, it’s not enough to hire just anyone – you need an attorney who will fight relentlessly for your rights, and won’t rest until you get the justice you deserve.

Below, we’ve listed the important qualifications you should watch out for when hiring a Peculiar defense attorney:

  • Experience: Time in the courtroom gives defense attorneys real-world experience they can bring to your defense. Combs Waterkotte has extensive experience defending against weapon crime charges, with multiple former prosecutors and over 10,000 cases handled.
  • Reputation: When people talk about your lawyer, you want to hear good things. Combs Waterkotte has a prestigious reputation amongst clients, fellow attorneys, and professional organizations.
  • Resources: Solo lawyers will try their best, but for serious weapon crimes charges, you want a strong team of elite individuals at your back.
  • Approach: You want an attorney who puts you first. At Combs Waterkotte, our phones are ready for your call 24/7, and we keep you informed on any updates with your case.
  • Fearless Defense: If your case isn’t diverted and you end up in trial, you don’t want an attorney without a plan. You want someone who knows how to persuade judges and juries. Our attorneys always build our cases as if we’re going to trial, and prosecutors know that – giving us more leverage in plea negotiations.

Common Weapon Crimes Defenses in Peculiar, MO

Weapon crimes can be defended in similar ways to many other criminal allegations. That said, these types of cases often hinge on legal defenses like self-defense, and defensive strategies are often less about if you “did it” and more on whether the action was “justified.”

Below, we’ve listed common defense strategies we might use in your defense against Peculiar, MO, weapon crimes charges:

  • Self-Defense: If you fired a gun in self-defense, related criminal charges can be argued that they do not apply. In Missouri, you are allowed to take actions to protect yourself from imminent danger.
  • Defense of Others: Related to self-defense, you are allowed to use force to defend another person. Some weapon charges are invalidated if you were protecting another, as they would be with self-defence.
  • Castle Doctrine: MO castle doctrine states that you are authorized to use force, including weapons, to defend yourself and other people 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 determines that you have no requirement to retreat before using force (including weapons) to defend yourself, as long as you were permitted to be in that location in the first place.
  • Necessity: Necessity applies to situations where you were forced to do something illegal in order to stop something worse. Perhaps you knew someone at risk of self harm, and to protect them, gave their weapons to someone who legally wasn’t allowed to possess them. This is technically against the law, but your actions were well-intended to prevent a greater harm.
  • Duress: If you did not want to commit a crime, but you were forced to do so, you can use duress as a legal justification. For example, if someone threatened your family and made you carry a weapon into a government building, you could claim duress as a defense.
  • Lack of Intent: If you didn’t mean to break the law, depending on what exactly it was, a lack of intent can protect you from punishment. For example, giving a blackjack to someone younger than 18 is not allowed without approval from their parent/guardian. If you honestly thought this person had parental permission, though, you could be exempt due to a lack of intent.

  • Protect Your Life

    Image

    Protect Your Life

    A felony can have long-term consequences. Act quickly and carefully to protect your future and your livelihood.

    Reach Out Now

  • Know Your Next Steps

    Image

    Know Your Next Steps

    Wondering what happens after your felony arrest? The skilled Combs Waterkotte attorneys have the answers.

    Stay Informed

  • Title

    Image

    Ready to Talk to an Expert?

    Contact the experienced Combs Waterkotte felony lawyers now at (314) 900-HELP to get started on your defense.

    Get Started


Peculiar, MO, Weapon Crimes Defense FAQs

What self-defense weapons are legal in Missouri?

Normal self-defense tools that are legal to use in Missouri include guns, stun guns, tasers, pepper spray, and batons. Keep in mind that some of these do have special requirements.

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

What is the penalty for armed criminal action in Missouri?

Armed criminal action involves the use of a deadly weapon while committing another felony. Any penalties from armed criminal action are in conjunction with the penalties for the original felony, and depends on whether the person already has armed criminal action on their record or not:

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)

On top of that, prison sentences added because of armed criminal action are not eligible for parole or probation.

What is the Castle Doctrine in Missouri?

Missouri castle doctrine is covered in §563.031, RSMo 2016, which permits the use of force to defend one’s dwelling, residence, or vehicle from aggressors, with no requirement to retreat.

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

What counts as self-defense in Peculiar, MO?

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

Self-defense is legal when it is used to defend oneself (or others) from attack, 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 were allowed to be in that spot in the first place.

How do I defend against weapons charges in Peculiar?

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

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

People in Peculiar, 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 have been convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence charges.
Can police search your car for weapons without a warrant?

Law enforcement cannot search your car under normal circumstance, but, police can still search your car for weapons if they have probable cause, if you agree to the search, if they are checking for their safety after an arrest, or if your car is impounded.


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


Looking For a Weapon Crimes Defense Attorney in Peculiar, MO? Call Combs Waterkotte Right Away

Weapon crimes in Peculiar are serious business. If a prosecutor is trying to put you in prison for them, you have to have a leading weapon crimes defense attorney to fight for your freedom. You need Combs Waterkotte.

When we take the case, you’re not just getting a law firm that will take the first deal offered and call it a day. Our team is all about getting you good results, and that means doing whatever we can to get the best possible outcome for you. We have the practice and expertice that it takes to fight weapon crime charges.

Get a hold of us now at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation.

Open Video
Image

Featured Results:

Client Review, DUI Case

Play video
Image

Get In Touch:

St. Louis

Main Office

(314) 900-HELP

Get Directions

Clayton

By Appointment Only

(314) 900-HELP

Get Directions

Kansas City

By Appointment Only

(913) 77-CRIME

Get Directions