Carroll County Gun Lawyer
Carroll County has strict laws against gun crimes, with severe penalties for those charged with unlawful possession or use of a gun in a crime. Sometimes, new Maryland residents who are otherwise law-abiding citizens are punished for their lack of knowledge of the state’s assault handgun laws. The penalties for a gun charge conviction are severe, and can permanently derail your personal life, career, and future. The best defense for individuals charged with gun-related offenses is assistance from a Carroll County gun lawyer with an excellent reputation and strong legal advocacy skills.
An experienced lawyer can examine the facts of an individual’s case and tailor a defense to their particular circumstances in order to attain the best result. There are many benefits to seeking a local criminal defense attorney to discuss your gun charge.
Types of Charges
Maryland Criminal Code Annotated § 4-203 makes illegal to wear, conceal, or knowingly transport a handgun. Yes, there are exceptions to this law, but many law-abiding citizens get caught up in a prosecution for violating this statue because they unknowingly violated its terms. A Carroll County gun lawyer can be a legal advocate when someone is facing charges of offenses including:
- Illegal possession of an “assault pistol”
- Illegal possession, concealment, or transportation of a firearm
- Use of a firearm in commission of a violent crime
- Possession of a firearm on school grounds
- Possession of an unregistered firearm
- Felon in possession of a firearm
Maryland makes the mere possession of certain “assault” handguns a criminal offense, even if the assault handgun is not being used in a crime. Many prohibited handguns in Maryland are perfectly legal to possess in other states.
Maryland Criminal Law Code Annotated § 4-301 makes the several assault handguns illegal to possess. These include the uzi semi-automatic pistol, HK SP 89 semi-automatic pistol, Bushmaster semi-automatic pistol, and the Scorpion semi-automatic pistol.
Additional Regulations
The Carroll County gun lawyer has helped individuals understand gun-related regulations and actions prohibited by the Maryland Criminal Code Annotated or regulatory statutes, including:
- Child Access to a Firearm
- Return of Seized Guns
- Denial of a Concealed Carry Permit
- Denial of a Permit to Purchase a Handgun
- Illegal Modification of a Firearm
- Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm
- Unlawful Possession of a Magazine (10 rounds)
- Failure to Register a Handgun
Penalties for Firearm Offenses
Maryland gun crimes carry several different penalties, and a prior conviction for the use or possession of a firearm can “enhance” the second offense greatly. For example, the penalty for the first offense of unlawfully wearing or carrying a handgun is 30 days, with a maximum term of 10 years. For the second offense, the minimum term jumps from 30 days to one year, and the maximum jumps from one year to 10 years.
Preparing a Defense
Depending on what offense a person is facing, there are several defenses they can take. There are several benefits to attaining a defense team.
- An illegal stop leading to the discovery of the firearm
- An illegal search leading to the possession of the firearm
- Lack of defendant’s knowledge of the presence of the firearm
- Illegally obtained admissions
- False or unreliable statements by informants and law enforcement officers
Ask to Speak with a Carroll County Gun Attorney
If you have been charged with a firearm or some other weapons crime, contact a Carroll County gun lawyer to learn how you could mount a strong defense.