Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer Lake Lotawana, MO

Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer, Lake Lotawana, MO. If you live in MO, you’ve probably known or been around someone who either concealed or open carried a weapon – if you live in Missouri, you have a lot of options for legal weapons and self-defense tools. But even when you act in self-defense, you’re facing a mountain of scrutiny and have to show your innocence.

A high portion of weapon crime charges are felonies, which means you are facing potentially years in prison if convicted. If you don’t have a leading Lake Lotawana weapon crimes defense lawyer, you could be labelled as a felon for life for just acting in self defense.

Protect your rights. Guard your freedom. Hire Combs Waterkotte. Our team of expert weapons crime 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 against your criminal weapons charges.

Contact us right away at (314) 900-HELP or tell us about your case online for a free, confidential consultation.

What Do Weapon Laws Cover in Lake Lotawana, MO?

MO law covers topics like purchase, possession, and use of firearms 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 federally-licensed dealers are required to perform one, meaning that most MO gun transfers still require a background check.

In MO, the majority of 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. They have not had their right to bear arms taken away.

MO allows its citizens the use of guns to shoot targets and for self-defense, but some other actions are not allowed. These actions mostly consist of those that would threaten others’ safety, such as threatening someone with a firearm, firing one while intoxicated, or using one while committing another crime.

One quick note – while we’ve talked mostly about state restrictions above, MO allows for individual localities to set up their own laws on weapon possession, so to ensure you’re compliant with regulations in Lake Lotawana, be sure to check your local laws and consult with 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 Lake Lotawana, MO. 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

Other Types of Weapon Laws in MO

Lake Lotawana, MO laws don’t stop at guns, though: You also need to be aware of restrictions for non-firearm self-defense items. Common self-defense instruments, such as pepper spray and stun guns, are legal to possess in MO without any permits.

Other tools, such as knives, blackjacks, and batons, are are more stringently regulated because they are categorized as dangerous weapons. Because of this, even though they are not firearms, they generally face the same restrictions, and also cannot be carried into restricted areas.

Once again, though, as mentioned above with firearms, different localities are allowed to establish more specific regulations, so reach out to a Lake Lotawana weapons law expert if you don’t know the rules a given self-defense implement.

MO Weapon Crimes Punishments:

When you’re up against weapon crimes allegations in MO, there’s no time to mess around. 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 Lake Lotawana weapon crimes defense lawyer?

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

When you’re deciding on a Lake Lotawana, MO, weapon crimes defense lawyer, choosing the right one can make all the difference – you need an attorney who will treat you like a person, not a case number, and will keep going 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 lawyers has extensive experience defending against weapon crime charges, with a combined more than 60 years of legal experience and over 10,000 cases handled.
• Reputation: If you ask someone about their experience with your defense attorney, you’ll want to hear a glowing review. Combs Waterkotte has a phenomenal reputation amongst clients, fellow lawyers, and professional bodies.
• Resources: Some cases can be handled by just one attorney. 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, we treat your case as if it were our own, 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 ready to go to battle. 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 Lake Lotawana, 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 are often less about whether you “did it” and more on whether what the defendant did was “justified.”

Below, we’ve listed common defense tactics our team might use in your case against Lake Lotawana, MO, weapon crimes charges:

• Self-Defense: Weapons are frequently used in self-defense, and related criminal accusations can be argued that they do not apply. In Missouri, it’s legal to protect yourself from imminent danger.
• Defense of Others: Similar to self-defense, you can protect another via the use of force, even a weapon. 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 states that you are allowed to use force, including weapons, to protect yourself and others at your residence. You do not need to retreat before resorting to force, but the amount and type of force used must be proportionate to the force of the perceived threat.
• Stand Your Ground: Stand your ground is built off of castle doctrine. The state of 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: 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 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 someone forced you 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 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.

Lake Lotawana, MO, Weapon Crimes Defense FAQs

Facing Weapon Crimes Charges in Lake Lotawana, MO? Call Combs Waterkotte Today

Weapon crimes in Lake Lotawana are not going to go away on their own. If the state is charging you with them, you can’t settle for anything less than a leading weapon crimes defense attorney 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 fighting to get the best possible outcome for you. We have the experience and track record of success that defending these charges demands.

Get a hold of us right away at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a no-obligation, confidential consultation.