Fort Worth Gun Charge Lawyer

Gun charges and convictions can severely impact your life. Increase your chance of avoiding the negative impacts of a weapons conviction by working with a Fort Worth gun violation attorney.

In Texas, almost anyone can possess a firearm, but you can get into trouble if you aren’t aware of the laws on how, when, and where you can carry a weapon. Certain places do not allow firearms, and certain laws regulate the ways you can carry guns. You can face criminal charges if you fail to abide by Texas’ gun laws.

If you’ve been charged with a gun violation in or around Fort Worth, it’s important to work with a Fort Worth gun charge lawyer from the Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy. Penalties for gun crime convictions can severely impact your future by leaving you with jail time, hefty fines, and an inability to legally own a firearm.

Your criminal history can also be greatly impacted by a charge of this nature, and that could mean lost employment opportunities, embarrassment for you and your family, and stricter penalties down the road if you’re convicted of another offense.

What Are the Different Gun Laws in Texas?

Gun laws vary widely from state to state, so you need read up on the gun laws in Texas before carrying a firearm. Many times, people are arrested for gun crimes, and they didn’t even know they were doing anything wrong.

The following is a list of some of the major gun violations in the state of Texas:

• Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon or Firearm – Under Texas law, you are prohibited from carrying a firearm in these circumstances without a specific license: if it’s in plain view, if you are engaged in criminal activity, if you are prohibited from carrying a firearm, or if you are a member of a criminal street gang.
• Unlawful Carrying of Handgun by License Holder – Even when you have a license to carry a handgun under Texas law, you still have to abide by certain rules. You can’t display your handgun in certain circumstances and you can’t carry it in prohibited places.
• Unlawful Possession of a Firearm – Certain people do not have the right to carry firearms; if you’ve been convicted of domestic violence within the last five years or if you have been convicted of a felony, you are not allowed to carry a firearm.
• Unlawful Transfer of Certain Firearms – When you sell or transfer a handgun or other firearm to a person that you know intends to use it in an unlawful manner, you might have committed a crime. Also, you can’t sell or transfer to intoxicated individuals or minors.
• Making a Firearm Accessible to a Child – You’ve potentially committed this offense if you haven’t taken steps to properly secure your firearm. When you leave a firearm out and a child gets ahold of it, you can be prosecuted for this weapons crime.
• Firearm Smuggling – You could be accused of committing this crime if you are knowingly involved in the business of transferring and selling firearms (usually for a profit) in direct violation of Texas law and without the proper licenses.

Penalties for Gun Violation Convictions in Fort Worth

The penalties for gun charges in Texas range widely, from minor misdemeanor offenses to major felony offenses. The severity of punishments depends on a variety of factors. Some of the factors that affect penalties include the following:

• Whether you are a repeat offender
• Where the offense took place
• Whether you are considered a violent offender
• What the type of weapons violation is
• Whether the offense involved a minor
• Your criminal history

Below is a breakdown of penalties you may be facing if you’re convicted of a gun charge in Fort Worth, based on the class of misdemeanor or felony you’ve been charged with. Remember, your penalties could be greater based on the above factors.

• A Class B misdemeanor weapons offense conviction can result in up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
• A Class A misdemeanor weapons offense conviction can result in up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.
• A state jail felony weapons offense conviction can result in between 180 days and two years in state jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
• A third-degree felony weapons offense conviction can result in between two and ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
• A second-degree felony weapons offense conviction can result in between two and twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
• A first-degree felony weapons offense conviction can result in between five and ninety-nine years in prison or life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

How Gun Charges Impact Your Future

Gun charges and the associated criminal penalties are not something you want to mess around with. You could spend significant time behind bars, you could be charged a large fine, and you could have certain rights taken away from you if you’re convicted of a weapons violation.

Those criminal penalties alone aren’t the only way gun charges affect your life. You might find it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain employment when you have a gun conviction on your criminal record. Your criminal record could keep you from obtaining many other important services, as well, such as educational opportunities.

This is a major reason why it’s so important to team up with a qualified gun charge lawyer in Fort Worth.

Speak with a Fort Worth Gun Charge Attorney

If you’ve been charged with a weapons violation in the Fort Worth area, you need to contact an attorney right away. With a criminal defense attorney from our office by your side, you will have a better chance of getting your charges dismissed, dropped, or reduced.

Don’t risk your future by trying to fight your criminal charges on your own. You need an experienced defense lawyer in your corner. Contact a Fort Worth gun charge lawyer with the Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy. Call us at 817-605-1010 or fill out the contact form on this page.