Columbia Gun Lawyer
Due to the lethal nature of guns, offenses involving firearms are treated very seriously in Columbia. It is important to consider that, while they are often used recreationally, they can still be misused, handled improperly, land in the hands of somebody with bad intent, or handled carelessly. In any of these cases, although this may not have been the original intent, they can severely injure or kill somebody else. If you are facing gun charges, it is essential that you contact a qualified Columbia gun lawyer who will help guide you through the legal steps and often confusing process. An experienced defense attorney can assist in mitigating the damage of your offense and ensure that your rights are protected throughout the legal process.
Enforcement of Gun Laws
From the prosecution’s perspective, their aim is to keep Columbia as clean, as tidy, and as safe as possible. They do not want guns in the streets; they do not want guns with anyone that should not have them. It is important to note that cases are treated a little differently if the person charged was allowed to have gun but stored it improperly, as opposed to someone having a gun that should not have had one in the first place. That being said, both situations are taken very seriously and the prosecution wants to make sure there is no chance of a gun getting into the wrong hands or guns being used for improper purposes.
Penalties
The penalties depend on the type of offense. Some of the more serious gun offenses can carry up to 5, 10, or even 15 years’ incarceration depending upon the nature and the history of the individual. In many cases, gun related offenses may also be felonies which means they can carry long-term repercussions including those that impact employment, education, or government assistance. For these reasons, it is imperative that those accused consult with a gun lawyer in Columbia to build a defense as soon as possible.
Hiring a Defense
There are a number of differences between retaining public versus private counsel. These mainly pertain to the time and attention the Columbia gun attorney has available to devote to each client. When someone applies for the public offender’s office, they file an application and within some number of weeks, they may receive a phone call from the office to gather the facts of the case. In other cases they may meet once or twice with the public defender and talk with them. That interaction will be the basis for the representation in court. If the defendant wants to reach the public defender’s office, they will call the office, maybe leave a voicemail, and on rare occasions, actually reach somebody that is there and reach their attorney. On the other hand, when someone retains private counsel, being available to the clients is a top priority for that attorney. Sometimes, if they were in court or visiting somebody incarcerated, they are unable to answer immediately. However, they will be sure to respond in a timely manner and as soon as possible.
A private attorney is someone who a client can e-mail, can call, can text, at any time. The client can easily set up an appointment at the office. By retaining private counsel, the client can rest assured that there is somebody focused on looking out for them, somebody they can have and meet on day one, somebody by their side from the very beginning. The attorney will take the time to talk with the families of the individuals who have been incarcerated and within 24 hours, may be sitting across from the individual, telling them exactly what needs to be done and what the options are.
This level of private attention is simply not available through the public defender’s office. Ultimately, having a private law firm allows for greater communication, greater versatility, and the ability to work harder and devote more attention to each individual case.
How An Attorney Can Help
If you are charged with improper or unlawful possession of a firearm, the consequences of a conviction can be serious and far-ranging. A Columbia gun lawyer can help clarify any misunderstandings to the court, as well as keep you apprised of your rights under the law, and guide and advise you throughout the legal process.