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Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer Orrick, MO

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Last Updated: February 20, 2026

Weapon Crimes Defense Lawyer, Orrick, MO. MO is known as a pro-second amendment state – the state’s gun & weapon laws allow for more freedom for possession and usage. But just because you have many freedoms to carry weapons, doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want with them.

Several weapons criminal charges are felonies, which means you are facing potentially years in prison if convicted. If you don’t have a leading Orrick weapon crimes defense lawyer, you could be looking at lifelong consequences for just forgetting to check your pockets.

Secure your rights. Preserve your freedom. Call Combs Waterkotte. Our team of leading weapon crimes defense attorneys, including a former prosecutor, knows how to protect you. 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.

Get in touch today at (314) 900-HELP or connect with us online for a free, confidential consultation.

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Weapon Crime Defense Attorney | Orrick, MO, Weapon Crime Defense


What Do Weapon Laws Cover in Orrick, 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 does not address background checks in the sale or transfer of firearms, 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 citizens are permitted to carry a self-defense weapon, so long as:

  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.

Firearms usage in the state allows for standard target shooting and for self-defense, but several other actions are not legal. These activities mostly are those that would endanger others, such as using the gun in a threatening manner, firing one over a highway, or firing it into a building.

One quick note – so far, this page has mainly covered state regulations above, MO allows for individual localities to make their own more stringent laws related to weapons, so to ensure you’re compliant with regulations in Orrick, be sure to check your local statutes and connect with a gun crime lawyer if there’s any part you’re having trouble understanding.

Common Weapon Crimes Charges in MO

Orrick, 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:

Other Types of Weapon Laws in MO

Firearms aren’t the only regulated thing in Orrick, MO: There are also regulations for non-firearm self-defense items. Common self-defense instruments, such as pepper spray and stun guns, are legal to possess in MO without special permits.

Other tools, such as knives, blackjacks, and batons, are face additional restrictions because they are treated as deadly weapons. With this classification, even though they are not firearms, they often are subject to the same limitations, and also have limitations on where they can be carried.

Once again, though, as mentioned above with guns, different municipalities can have more specific regulations, so don’t be afraid to ask a Orrick weapons law expert if the statute is unclear regarding a particular self-defense device.

MO Weapon Crimes Sentences:

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 Orrick weapon crimes defense lawyer?



What to Look For in a Orrick, 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’re deciding on a Orrick, MO, weapon crimes defense attorney, their abilities and willingness to give your case their all matters – you need a lawyer 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 Orrick defense attorney:

  • Experience: The more practice your lawyer has in the courtroom, the better. Combs Waterkotte 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 stellar reputation amongst former clients, other law firms, 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 on your side.
  • Approach: It’s important to work with a lawyer 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 knows how to persuade judges and juries. Our attorneys always construct our defenses as if we’re going to trial, which also helps us out in negotiations.

Common Weapon Crimes Defenses in Orrick, 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 defenses frequently have less to do with whether you “did it” and more on whether the action was “justified.”

In the following list, you can ready about some effective defense strategies we might use in your defense against Orrick, MO, weapon crimes charges:

  • Self-Defense: If you fired a gun in self-defense, related criminal charges can be argued that they do not apply. In Missouri, it’s legal to protect yourself from imminent danger.
  • Defense of Others: Related to 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 those who are in your dwelling. You do not need to retreat before resorting to force, but 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 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, 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: 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.

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Orrick, MO, Weapon Crimes Defense FAQs

What self-defense weapons are legal in Missouri?

Common self-defense weapons that are legal to use in Missouri include guns, stun guns, tasers, pepper spray, and batons. Some of these still face restrictions in their use, though.

Regardless of the weapon you use, though, keep in mind that when acting in self-defense, the 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. Punishments for this crime are always in addition to the penalties for the related felony, and depends on whether the person already has armed criminal action on their record or not:

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)

On top of that, any penalties added because of armed criminal action are not eligible for parole or probation.

What is the Castle Doctrine in Missouri?

Missouri castle doctrine is dictated by §563.031, RSMo 2016, which dictates that you can use force to defend your dwelling, residence, or vehicle from aggressors, without first trying to retreat.

However, this does not allow you to shoot someone for smaller crimes like tresspassion. Deadly force is only justified when facing “the use or imminent use of unlawful force.”

What counts as self-defense in Orrick, MO?

Missouri’s self-defense law permits one to use force to defend oneself from a threat, so long as the defensive force is proportional to the threatening force.

Self-defense is legal if it is used to protect oneself (or others) from attack, when one is unable or not required to retreat, or to protect one’s home/vehicle.

As a stand your ground state, Missouri law makes it so that citizens don’t have to to retreat from a threatening situation, as long as they have a right to be in that location.

How do I defend against weapons charges in Orrick?

Common defense strategies for criminal weapon charges include self-defense, the defense of others, castle doctrine, and stand your ground.

How can you lose your right to own a gun in Orrick?

People in Orrick, MO, can lose their right to bear arms in a few ways:

  1. If they receive a felony conviction
  2. If they are a fugitive
  3. If they are regularly drunk or drugged
  4. If they are deemed mentally incompetent
  5. If, in accordance with federal laws, they have been convicted of domestic violence, regardless of whether it was a misdemeanor or a felony.
Can police search your car for weapons without a warrant?

Law enforcement cannot search your car under normal circumstance, but, police can still search your car for weapons if they have probable cause, if you give them consent, if you’ve been arrested and they are securing the area, or if your car is impounded.


Weapons Crime Defense Attorney | Orrick, MO, Weapon Crimes Defense


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

Weapon crime allegations in Orrick are not going to go away on their own. And if you’re being charged with committing them, you need a leading weapon crimes defense attorney for your case. 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 all about getting you good results, and that means not stopping until we get the best possible outcome for you. We have the resources and expertice that it takes to fight weapon crime charges.

Protect your rights by calling us today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a no-obligation, confidential consultation.

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