Weapons Offenses – Criminal Defense Attorneys in Philadelphia
Guns and other weapons are highly regulated in Pennsylvania and there are many situations in which you may be charged with a weapons offense. If you have been charged with possessing, using, or altering a weapon in any way whatsoever, you should contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately to protect your rights. If you are convicted of a weapons offense, you may be forever barred from legally purchasing or owning a gun.
At Kenny, Burns & McGill, we defend clients who have been charged with any of the following gun and weapons charges. Many firearms offenses are referred to as Violation of the Uniform Firearm Act, or “VUFA” charges. These charges sometimes accompany other offenses in a larger case (such as armed robbery, drug trafficking, and so forth):
- Possession of an Illegal Weapon
- Possession of an Unlicensed Weapon
- Use or Intended Use of a Firearm or Weapon During Criminal Activity
- Carrying a Concealed Weapon
- Assault with a Deadly Weapon
- Illegal Sale of Guns or Firearms
Unless you have a license to do so, it is illegal to conceal a weapon anywhere on your person or in your car or purse, even though you are allowed to hide a gun in your home or business. If you have ever been convicted of a felony, it is illegal to possess a gun. If you are under a Protection from Abuse (PFA) Order, you may also be prohibited from owning a gun.
In Pennsylvania, you cannot legally possess a grenade, bomb, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun, or silencer; any blackjack, brass knuckles, dagger, sandbag, or knife in which the blade is spring-loaded; any stun gun or other electric weapon unless you are specifically licensed to carry one (as in some law enforcement jobs).
Defending Against Weapons Charges
Especially when it comes to weapons charges, the way that police officers find evidence against you is very important. Say a police officer comes to your door with a warrant for your arrest as a suspect of a weapons offense. Unless they also have a search warrant, they are not allowed to go into your house and start looking for a gun. Even if they find a gun that matches the one used at the scene of the crime, a knowledgeable defense lawyer might be able to get that evidence thrown out. The same goes for weapons obtained during a traffic stop. If you are pulled over for speeding, the officer is not allowed to just start rooting around inside your vehicle looking for weapons.
The criminal defense attorneys at Kenny, Burns & McGill have handled thousands of cases from start to finish, including many weapons and firearms offenses. If you have been charged with illegally possessing, using, buying, or selling a gun or other weapon, contact us today to learn how we can help. Your rights are too important to sacrifice and if you need legal counsel, we are ready to fight for you.
