Are You Facing Federal Gun Charges?

Federal weapons charges can be precarious because convicted offenders often face severe penalties, many of which carry mandatory minimum sentences. Anyone facing these kinds of charges definitely requires the assistance of an experienced local criminal defense attorney in order to navigate complex federal laws.

Common Charges

There are multiple gun charges that are prosecuted with regularity in this country. The most common include:

• Possession by a Prohibited Person: Certain individuals are forbidden by law to possess a gun. That group includes fugitives, felons, certain individuals convicted of domestic violence, and drug users.
• Possession During the Commission of a Violent Felony/Involving Drug Trafficking: When firearms are possessed, carried, or used in these circumstances it can dramatically increase penalties.
• Possession of Illegal or Unregistered Weapons: This includes the illegal manufacture or sale of silencers, machineguns, and short-barreled shotguns.
• Trafficking: Illegally transporting, purchasing, or selling of ammunition and/or firearms across state or international borders will lead to charges, particularly when unlicensed individuals are involved.
• Dealing without a License: Operating a firearms business without a license is illegal.
• Possession of Unregistered Firearms: Federal law requires that weapons be licensed.
• Straw Purchasing/False Statements: Buying a firearm on behalf of another person who is not allowed to have one, lying on official forms, and altering the serial number on a gun will result in penalties.

Serious Penalties

Any of these charges have the potential to trigger both state and federal charges, resulting in serious time behind bars. Federal law allows for mandatory minimum sentences of 15 years for those with three or more previous violent felonies or drug convictions, and the Armed Career Criminal Act also carries mandatory minimums when the weapon was used during drug trafficking or a violent crime. Sentences range from five years to life sentences, with the average sentence coming in at 12.5 years.

Defending Charges

Defense attorneys have a number of options when defending these kinds of gun charges:

• The actions were justified due to defense of oneself of another person from imminent danger;
• The right to bear arms, as guaranteed by the Constitution, were violated by the arrest;
• The weapon was found in a shared space, so someone else was in charge of it;
• There was no probable cause or warrant to search, resulting in an unlawful seizure, meaning the entire case should be dropped.

Defending Your Rights

If you are facing federal gun charges, your life could be turned upside down in no time. Now, more than ever, you need a resourceful and creative Las Vegas criminal defense attorney fighting to defend your liberty. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in the office of Lobo Law today.

Source:

justice.gov/file/411656/dl