Owning a firearm is not a crime. Yet, if you carry a weapon without a permit, it can lead to serious charges. Many crimes turn into felonies because of the presence of a gun. Even if you weren’t in the middle of committing a crime, you could still be hit with a weapon charge.
When facing weapon charges, you need an Ann Arbor weapon charges lawyer from The Law Offices of Bradley J. Friedman on your side to fight for your rights to own a firearm.
Because a gun symbolizes the potential for danger and the loss of life, the prosecutor will scrutinize any charge with a weapon. Most prosecutors quickly transform a criminal charge into a felony if a gun is involved.
This charge is classified as a felony firearm. If you had a firearm while committing a robbery or another crime, you could face a mandatory prison sentence of 2 years in addition to the other penalties.
You can be charged with possessing a concealed weapon if you are not licensed to carry it.
Possession of a concealed weapon is a felony charge. You can face up to 5 years in prison if convicted.
In addition to facing felony firearm charges, you can face additional charges for carrying a “dangerous weapon.” Michigan defines a dangerous weapon as any object that is carried to use as a weapon. These are one of the charges that the prosecutor includes enhancing the penalties.
You can also face additional charges based on where you carried the firearm. Even with a permit, there are certain locations where you can’t carry a firearm. These locations are churches, courts, daycares, and hospitals. If you carry a firearm in any of these locations, you can face additional felonies.
You are not automatically guilty just because you have been issued a weapon charge. Many prosecutors are eager to throw weapon charges on people who carry firearms, even when they have legal permits to do so. Fortunately, there are tried and true defenses that you can use against your charges. These defenses include:
At The Law Offices of Bradley J. Friedman, our Ann Arbor weapon charges lawyers can use other defenses that reduce or eliminate your charges. If your weapon wasn’t loaded or operable, these facts could be used in your favor.
Our Ann Arbor weapon charges lawyer has helped many people defend their right to own a firearm under the Second Amendment. Please use our contact form to schedule your initial consultation with The Law Offices of Bradley J. Friedman. Don’t let an innocent mistake disrupt your life or your lifestyle. We will fight for your right to carry a firearm in Ann Arbor.
From our office in Farmington Hills, we serve clients throughout the Detroit metropolitan area and beyond in Michigan.