Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer

Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer, Kansas City, Missouri. Missouri is known as a pro-second amendment state – its gun & weapon laws allow for more freedom for possession and usage. But that doesn’t mean that weapon crimes charges aren’t taken seriously.

Many weapons charges are felonies, which means you are facing potentially years in prison if convicted. Without the help of a leading Kansas City weapon crimes defense lawyer, you could be looking at lifelong consequences for just carrying a weapon in the wrong place.

Protect your rights. Defend your freedom. Call Combs Waterkotte. Our team of expert criminal defense attorneys, including a former prosecutor, has more than 60 years of combined legal experience. We are dedicated to our clients and will fight to get you the best possible outcome in your weapons charge defense case.

Get in touch now at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a free, confidential consultation.

How Do Weapon Laws Work in Kansas City, Missouri?

Missouri law covers topics like purchase, possession, and use of guns and other weapons. State laws overlap with federal laws to create a web of regulations. For example, Missouri does not require a background check for individuals to purchase a gun, but federally-licensed dealers are required to conduct one.

In Missouri, most citizens are permitted to carry a firearm, 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 self-defense, but certain actions are illegal. These actions mostly consist of those that would threaten others’ safety, such as using the gun in a threatening manner, firing one while intoxicated, or using one while committing another crime.

One quick note – while we’ve talked mostly about state laws above, Missouri allows for individual municipalities to set up their own restrictions on weapon possession, so to make sure you’re following Kansas City laws, be sure to check your local statutes and consult with a gun crime lawyer if you’re unclear on any regulations.

Common Weapon Crimes Charges in Missouri

While there are a variety of weapons charges you can face in Kansas City, Missouri, here are some of the most common types of cases that we’ve helped defend at Combs Waterkotte:

• Unlawful Use of a Weapon
• Unlawful Possession, Manufacture, Transport, and Repair of Certain Weapons
• Carrying a Concealed Weapon Without a Permit
• Possession of an Illegal Weapon
• Possession of a Firearm While Intoxicated
• Illegal Discharge of a Firearm
• Federal Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• Federal Weapons/Firearm Offenses
• Other Gun Charges
• Other Weapons Offenses

Non-Firearm Weapon Laws in Missouri

It’s also important in Missouri to be aware of laws for non-firearm self-defense items. Common self-defense items, including pepper spray and stun guns, are legal to possess in Missouri without any permits.

Knives, blackjacks, and batons are special in that they are treated as dangerous weapons. Because of this, even though they are not firearms, they generally have the same restrictions, and also cannot be carried into restricted areas.

However, as mentioned above with firearms, different localities can have different restrictions, so don’t be afraid to ask a Kansas City weapons law expert if you’re unsure about a particular self-defense item.

Missouri Weapon Crimes Penalties:

The penalties for alleged weapon crimes in Missouri are steep. Here’s what you could be facing if you don’t hire a weapon crimes defense attorney early:

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

What to Look For in a Kansas City, Missouri, Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer

When you’re hiring a Kansas City, Missouri, weapon crimes defense attorney, it’s not enough to hire just anyone – you need someone who will fight relentlessly for your rights, and won’t rest 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 firm has extensive 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 clients, peers, and professional organizations.
• Resources: Solo lawyers will try their best, but for serious weapon crimes charges, you want a strong team of skillful individuals at your back.
• Approach: You want an attorney who puts clients first. At Combs Waterkotte, we take pride in maintaining open lines of communication with all of our clients, and we keep you informed on any updates with your case.
• Fearless Defense: If the case goes to trial, you don’t want someone only half-prepared. You want someone who’s ready to go to battle. Our lawyers always prepare our defenses as if we’re going to trial, giving us a strong negotiating position.

Common Weapon Crimes Defenses in Kansas City, Missouri

Weapon crimes can be defended in similar ways to many other criminal allegations. However, they are more likely to involve tactics like claiming self-defense, and defenses can focus less on whether you “did it” and more on whether the action was “justified.”

Here are some of the defense strategies our team might use in your case against Kansas City, Missouri, weapon crimes charges:

• Self-Defense: Weapons are frequently used in self-defense, and related criminal accusations can be invalidated in many cases. In Missouri, you are allowed to take actions to protect yourself from imminent danger.
• Defense of Others: Similar to self-defense, you can take action to protect another person from harm. Some weapon charges can be related to this in the same way that they can be related to self-defense.
• Castle Doctrine: Missouri castle doctrine dictates that you are permitted to use force, including weapons, to protect yourself and those in your home. While you do not have a duty to retreat, the force used needs to be proportionate to the threat.
• Stand Your Ground: An extension of the castle doctrine, the stand your ground law in Missouri dictates 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: If you find yourself in a tight spot, where something bad is going to happen, and the only way you can stop it is by breaking a law, you can claim necessity. Perhaps in an effort to scare off someone threatening you, you fired a warning shot. You could be accused of an unlawful discharge, but you needed to do so to prevent a greater harm.
• Duress: If you did not want to commit a crime, but 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 a person under the age of 18 is illegal without their parents’ permission. However, if you honestly thought the person was older, you would not have had intent.

Kansas City, Missouri, Weapon Crimes Defense FAQs

Facing Weapon Crimes Charges in Kansas City? Call Combs Waterkotte Now

Weapon crimes in Kansas City are no joke. And if you’re being charged with committing them, you need a leading weapon crimes defense lawyer to defend you. You need Combs Waterkotte.

When you hire us, you’re not just getting a law firm that will take the first deal offered and call it a day. Our team is results-driven, and that means fighting to get the best possible outcome for you. We have the experience and track record of success that defending these charges demands.

Call us today at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a free, confidential consultation.