Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer East Side KC, MO

Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer, East Side KC, MO. It’s not uncommon for somebody in MO to carry a weapon on themselves, even as simple as a pocket knife – Missouri takes the right to bear arms seriously. But just because you have many freedoms to carry weapons, doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want with them.

Many weapons 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 East Side KC weapon crimes defense lawyer, you could be looking at lifelong consequences for just carrying a weapon in the wrong place.

Save your life. Safeguard your freedom. Call Combs Waterkotte. Our team of East Side KC’s leading weapon crimes defense lawyers, including a former prosecutor, has more than 60 years of combined legal experience. We are committed to giving you the strongest defense possible and will fight to get you the best possible outcome against your criminal weapons charges.

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

How Do Weapon Laws Work in East Side KC, MO?

MO law covers topics like purchase, possession, and use of firearms and other weapons. But that’s not all you have to worry about in MO: There are still federal laws that affect the availability and use of self-defense tools. For example, MO does not require a background check for individuals to purchase a gun, but federally-licensed dealers are required to conduct one, meaning that you’ll still likely need to go through a background check when you purchase a firearm in MO.

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

1. They do not bring it into schools, government offices, places of worship, or other restricted areas; and
2. Nothing has happened to lead that person to lose their right to carry a weapon.

MO allows its citizens the use of guns to shoot targets and for self-defense, but several other actions are against the law. 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 firing it into a building.

One quick note – although we focused on state regulations above, MO allows for individual localities to write their own restrictions regarding firearms and other weapons, so to make sure you’re not breaking any East Side KC laws, be sure to go through your local statutes and consult with a gun crime lawyer if there’s any part you’re having trouble understanding.

Frequent Weapon Crimes Charges in MO

East Side KC, MO weapon crime charges cover a wide range of alleged crimes, but some charges are more common than others. Here are criminal allegations that Combs Waterkotte specializes in defending:

• 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 MO

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

Other weapons, like knives, blackjacks, and batons, are face additional restrictions because they are labelled as deadly weapons. With this classification, even though they are not firearms, they often face the same regulations, and also cannot be carried into restricted areas.

Once again, though, as mentioned above in regards to guns, different municipalities are allowed to establish their own restrictions, so don’t be afraid to ask a East Side KC weapons law expert if the statute is unclear regarding a given self-defense device.

MO Weapon Crimes Sentences:

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

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

What to Look For in a East Side KC, MO, Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer

When you need a East Side KC, MO, weapon crimes defense attorney, choosing the right one can make all the difference – you need someone who will treat you like a person, not a case number, and won’t stop until you get the justice you deserve.

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

• Experience: More experienced lawyers have seen more, and will be able to handle more. Combs Waterkotte has considerable experience defending against weapon crime charges, with a combined more than 60 years of legal experience and over 10,000 cases handled.
• Reputation: When people talk about your lawyer, you want to hear good things. 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 experienced 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 make sure you know what we’re working on with your case.
• Ferocious Defense: If plea negotiations fall through, you don’t want someone only half-prepared. You want someone who’s ready to go to battle. Our attorneys always construct our defenses as if we’re going to trial, giving us a strong negotiating position.

Weapon Crimes Defenses We Use in East Side KC, MO

Weapon crimes are, on a fundamental level, just like most other criminal allegations: You are charged, negotiate, and if necessary, go to trial. However, they are more likely to involve tactics like claiming self-defense, and defensive strategies frequently have less to do with whether you “did it” and more on whether the action was “justified.”

Below, we’ve listed common defense tactics Combs Waterkotte might use in your defense against East Side KC, MO, weapon crimes allegations:

• Self-Defense: Weapons are frequently used in self-defense, and related criminal accusations can be invalidated in many cases. In Missouri, you have the right to defend yourself against imminent danger.
• Defense of Others: Just like with self-defense, you can protect another via the use of force, even a weapon. Some weapon charges can be dropped if this is the case, just like with self-defense.
• Castle Doctrine: MO castle doctrine dictates that you are allowed to use force, including weapons, to defend yourself and other people at your residence. You do not need to retreat before resorting to force, but the amount and type of force you use must be proportionate to the threat.
• Stand Your Ground: Stand your ground is related to castle doctrine. This law in Missouri states 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 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 weren’t a willing participant in a criminal action, 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 someone younger than 18 is not allowed without approval from their parent/guardian. But if you truly believed that the person was over 18, you would not have had intent to break the law.

East Side KC, MO, Weapon Crimes Defense FAQs

Looking For a Weapon Crimes Defense Attorney in East Side KC, MO? Call Combs Waterkotte Today

Weapon crime allegations in East Side KC are serious business. If the state is charging you with them, you need a leading weapon crimes defense lawyer to protect your rights. 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 entirely focused on finding good results for your case, and that means not stopping until we get the best possible outcome for you. We have the resources and skills that are needed when you’re up against weapon crimes charges.

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