Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer Kansas City, MO

Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer, Kansas City, MO. Weapons, both concealed and open carry, are popular in MO – the state’s gun & weapon laws allow for more freedom for possession and usage. But you can still face serious criminal charges if you improperly use a weapon.

A high portion of weapons criminal charges are felonies, and a conviction could put you behind bars for years. If you don’t have a leading Kansas City weapon crimes defense attorney, you could permanently throw your life off course for just protecting yourself and your family.

Secure your rights. Guard your freedom. Call Combs Waterkotte. Our team of leading weapons crime defense attorneys, 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.

Start your defence right away at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a free, confidential consultation.

What Do Weapon Laws Cover in Kansas City, MO?

MO law covers topics like purchase, possession, and use of guns 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 address background checks in the sale or transfer of firearms, but federal law requires licensed dealers to conduct one, meaning that most MO gun transfers still require a background check.

In MO, the majority of people are permitted to carry a self-defense weapon, as long as:

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.

In MO, you’re allowed to use your gun at the range and for self-defense, but several other activities are illegal. These actions mostly are those that would endanger others, such as using the gun in a threatening manner, bringing one to a polling place during an election, or using one while committing another crime.

One quick note – although we focused on state regulations above, MO allows for individual municipalities to enforce their own more stringent laws regarding firearms and other weapons, so to ensure you’re compliant with regulations in Kansas City, be sure to go over your local statutes and connect with a gun crime lawyer if you’re unclear on any regulations.

Frequent Weapon Crimes Charges in MO

Kansas City, 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:

• 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

Other Types of Weapon Laws in MO

Kansas City, 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 instruments, such as pepper spray and stun guns, can be possessed in MO without special permits.

Other weapons, like knives, blackjacks, and batons, are are more stringently regulated because they are treated as dangerous weapons. This means that even though they are not firearms, they typically face the same restrictions, and also cannot be carried into restricted areas.

Once again, though, as mentioned above related to guns, different localities can set more specific restrictions, so reach out to a Kansas City weapons law expert if you don’t know the rules a given self-defense item.

MO Weapon Crimes Penalties:

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 right away:

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, MO, Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer

When you’re hiring a Kansas City, MO, weapon crimes defense lawyer, 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.

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

• Experience: Time in the courtroom gives defense attorneys real-world experience they can bring to your defense. Our firm has a wealth of 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 stellar reputation amongst previous clients, fellow lawyers, and professional organizations.
• 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: When you hire a lawyer, you want someone who puts you 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 your case isn’t diverted and you end up in 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, which also helps us out in negotiations.

Weapon Crimes Defenses We Use in Kansas City, MO

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

Below, we’ve listed common defense tactics we might use in your defense against Kansas City, MO, weapon crimes allegations:

• Self-Defense: Weapons are frequently used in self-defense, and related criminal charges can may not actually be applicable to you. 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 can be related to this in the same way that they can be related to self-defense.
• Castle Doctrine: MO castle doctrine says that you are sanctioned to use force, including weapons, to protect yourself and other people at your residence. While you do not have a duty to retreat, the force used needs to be proportionate to the threat.
• Stand Your Ground: Stand your ground is built off of castle doctrine. The state of Missouri states that you can use force and/or weapons to defend yourself, even outside of your home, as long as you are allowed permitted to be wherever you are.
• 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 you needed to do so to prevent a greater harm.
• Duress: When you unwillingly broke the law, because another person 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: 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 an underaged person without permission is illegal. If you honestly thought this person had parental permission, though, you could be exempt due to a lack of intent.

Kansas City, MO, Weapon Crimes Defense FAQs

Looking For a Weapon Crimes Defense Attorney in Kansas City, MO? Call Combs Waterkotte Today

Weapon crime allegations in Kansas City are not going to go away on their own. And if you’re being charged with committing them, you have to have a leading weapon crimes defense attorney for your case. You need Combs Waterkotte.

When you hire us, you’re getting a team that is dedicated to fighting for your rights. Our team is entirely focused on finding good results for your case, and that means doing whatever we can to get the best possible outcome for you. We have the practice and track record of success that you need in your corner.

Start building your defense right away at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a no-obligation, confidential consultation.