Gulf Shores Gun Crimes Lawyer

Alabama laws regarding the sale and possession of firearms are generally more liberal than in other states. However, the penalties upon conviction for a gun crime are still high. If you have been charged with an Alabama gun crime, you need an experienced criminal defense gun lawyer on your side defending your legal rights every step of the way.

A Gulf Shores gun lawyer can meet with you to discuss the facts and circumstances of your case and can assist you with formulating successful legal defenses to your gun charge(s). Having a skilled and knowledgeable lawyer on your side can make all the difference when it comes to obtaining a favorable result in your criminal case.

Some of the most important Alabama gun laws regarding the acquisition, possession, and registration of firearms include the following:

• Individuals are not required to obtain a gun permit for the purchase of rifles, shotguns, or handguns in Alabama, and anyone seeking to purchase a firearm need not produce a permit. No permit is required to possess a firearm, so long as the individual is over the age of 18, has no criminal record, does not have a documented history involving drugs or alcohol in relation to disorderly conduct, and has not been legally declared mentally unstable
• Alabama residents who are over the age of 18 may purchase rifles and shotguns from any licensed dealer in any given state. The sale and purchase of handguns, however, is only reserved for Alabama residents who are at least 21 years old
• A firearm may not be sold to individuals who have a history of violence, disorderly conduct, or alcohol problems
• A person may not possess a firearm in a public place
• Possessing short-barreled or sawed-off shotguns and rifles is prohibited under Alabama state law
• While carrying an open firearm is permitted under state law, a person may not carry a concealed firearm without a permit

Although Alabama gun laws are more liberal when compared with those of other states, gun crimes are still regularly prosecuted in the state. Some of the most common gun charges Gulf Shores gun attorneys see are as follows:

• Unauthorized purchase or sale of a firearm
• Possession of an assault weapon
• Robbery (or other crime) committed with a deadly weapon
• Felony vs. Misdemeanor Gun Charges

Alabama gun charges may be prosecuted as either felonies or as misdemeanors. Generally speaking, felony gun crimes are punishable by more than one year of incarceration, while misdemeanor gun crimes are generally punishable by up to one year of incarceration, as well as by fines or other penalties.

As with other types of criminal charges, gun charges have many potential defenses associated with them. Some of the more common defenses to Alabama gun charges include the following:

• Alibi
• Mistaken identity
• Lack of ownership
• Possession of required permit
• Illegal search and seizure
• Improper, inadequate, or absent Miranda warnings
• Improper questioning by investigators and/or police officers

Alabama gun convictions can subject you to very serious criminal penalties, including hefty fines and long periods of incarceration. A criminal defense gun lawyer in Gulf Shores can examine the facts and circumstances of your charge and can assist you with formulating a good legal defense.