Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer, Norborne, MO. It’s not uncommon for somebody in MO to carry a weapon on themselves, even as simple as a pocket knife – 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 lot of weapons criminal 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 Norborne weapon crimes defense lawyer, you could be labelled as a felon for life for just acting in self defense.
Save your life. Defend your freedom. Contact Combs Waterkotte. Our team of leading weapon crimes defense attorneys, including a former prosecutor, has defended over 10,000 cases. 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.
Get in contact right away 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
400+ Perfect
Legal Experience
Over 60 Years

What Do Weapon Laws Cover in Norborne, MO?
MO law sets rules for the usage, ownership, and transfer of firearms and other weapons. These are all in addition to federal laws, which also set rules for weapons. One way they are different is this: MO allows gun dealers to sell firearms without performing a background check, 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:
- They do not bring it into schools, government offices, places of worship, or other restricted areas; and
- They have not had their right to bear arms taken away.
In MO, you’re allowed to use your gun at the range and for self-defense, but some other actions are not legal. These activities mostly are ones that would put others’ wellbeing at risk, such as using the gun in a threatening manner, firing one over a highway, or using one while committing another crime.
One quick note – although we focused on state laws above, MO allows for individual municipalities to write their own laws regarding firearms and other weapons, so to make sure you’re not breaking any Norborne laws, be sure to go over your local statutes and connect with a gun crime lawyer if you’re unclear on any regulations.
Typical Weapon Crimes Charges in MO
Even though “weapon crimes” can cover a wide variety of potential allegations and penalties, there are trends in Norborne, MO. 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
Other Weapon Laws in MO
It’s also important in MO to be aware of laws for non-firearm self-defense items. Typical self-defense weapons, namely 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 designated as deadly weapons. With this classification, even though they are not firearms, they often have the same regulations, and also have limitations on where they can be carried.
Once again, though, as mentioned above with guns, different localities can set different restrictions, so don’t be afraid to ask a Norborne weapons law expert if the statute is unclear regarding a particular self-defense item.
MO Weapon Crimes Penalties:
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:
| 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 Norborne weapon crimes defense lawyer?
What to Look For in a Norborne, MO, Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer
Cases Handled
Over 10,000
Jail Days Saved
Over 1 Million
Google Reviews
400+ Perfect
Legal Experience
Over 60 Years
When you need a Norborne, MO, weapon crimes defense lawyer, their abilities and willingness to give your case their all matters – you need someone who will fight relentlessly for your rights, 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 Norborne defense attorney:
- Experience: More experienced lawyers have seen more, and will be able to handle more. Our firm has a wealth of experience defending against weapon crime charges, with multiple former prosecutors and over 10,000 cases handled.
- Reputation: You want to work with someone who is known for success. Combs Waterkotte has a distinguished reputation amongst clients, other law firms, and professional societies.
- 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 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 an attorney without a plan. You want someone who knows how to persuade judges and juries. Our lawyers always build our defenses as if we’re going to trial, and prosecutors know that – giving us more leverage in plea negotiations.
Common Weapon Crimes Defenses in Norborne, MO
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 defensive strategies can focus less on if you “did it” and more on whether what the defendant did was “justified.”
Here are some of the defense tactics we might use in your case against Norborne, MO, weapon crimes charges:
- Self-Defense: If you fired a gun in self-defense, related criminal accusations can may not actually be applicable to you. In Missouri, you have the right to defend yourself against 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 dictates that you are legally allowed to use force, including weapons, to protect yourself and those in your home. While you do not have a duty to retreat, the degree of force you use 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 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 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: When you unwillingly broke the law, because another person forced to do so, duress could be a valid excuse. 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.
Norborne, MO, Weapon Crimes Defense FAQs
What self-defense weapons are legal in Missouri?
Normal self-defense devices which you can legally use in Missouri include firearms, stun guns, tasers, pepper spray, and batons, although some face special restrictions.
If you’re thinking about which device to use, remember that when acting in self-defense, your response remain proportionate to the threat.
What is the penalty for armed criminal action in Missouri?
Armed criminal action is technically a felony in and of itself, but only occurs when allegedly committing another felony. The prison sentence it adds is on top of the penalties for the other felony, and the sentence depends on whether the person has a criminal history of armed criminal action:
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)
Additionally, punishments added because of armed criminal action are ineligible for parole or probation.
What is the Castle Doctrine in Missouri?
Missouri castle doctrine is covered in §563.031, RSMo 2016, which dictates that you can use force to defend your dwelling, residence, or vehicle from aggressors, without needing to retreat.
However, this does not give you permission to shoot someone that is not a threat to you. Deadly force is only permitted when facing “the use or imminent use of unlawful force.”
What counts as self-defense in Norborne, MO?
Missouri’s self-defense law allows one to use force to defend against a threat, so long as the defensive force is proportional to the threatening force.
Self-defense is legal if it is used to defend oneself (or others) from harm, when one is unable or not required to retreat, or to defend one’s home/vehicle.
As a stand your ground state, in Missouri, citizens are not required to retreat from a threatening situation, so long as they have a right to be in that location.
How do I defend against weapons charges in Norborne?
Common defense strategies in weapons cases 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 Norborne?
People in Norborne, MO, can lose their right to bear arms for a few reasons:
- If they receive a felony conviction
- If they are a fugitive
- If they are regularly drunk or drugged
- If they are deemed mentally incompetent
- 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?
You typically have a right to privacy in your vehicle, however, police can still search your car for weapons if they have probable cause, if you consent, if you’ve been arrested and they are securing the area, or if your car is impounded.

Need a Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer in Norborne, MO? Call Combs Waterkotte Right Away
Weapon crime allegations in Norborne are not going to go away on their own. If the state is charging you with them, you have to have a leading weapon crimes defense lawyer for your case. You need Combs Waterkotte.
With Combs Waterkotte, you’re getting a team that is dedicated to fighting for your rights. Our team is results-driven, and that means not stopping until we get the best possible outcome for you. We have the practice and expertice that you need in your corner.
Start building your defense today at (314) 900-HELP or let us know your charges online for a free, confidential consultation.