Jefferson County Gun Crime Lawyer

Alabama is considered a generally permissive state when it comes to gun laws, allowing citizens to openly carry a firearm without a permit. However, people may find themselves in legal entanglements because of statutory exceptions.

In Alabama, statutory exceptions include prohibitions against selling or giving firearms to minors, discharging a firearm in an occupied or unoccupied dwelling, and possessing a rifle or shotgun disguised as a walking cane.

When failure to heed those restrictions results in substantial fines and incarceration, it can be beneficial to have a Jefferson County gun lawyer on your side. In these instances, a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer may be able to help.

Bringing those who believe firmly in the Second Amendment at odds with those who believe that reasonable restrictions should be imposed, the right to bear arms is a contentious subject. This right is enumerated in the Alabama Constitution, with subsequent statutes amending that constitutional right even further. Per the Alabama Code governing firearms, it is illegal for someone to:

• Carry a pistol on a premise that is not their own or under their legal control
• Sell or give a pistol to a minor
• Have a firearm on their person or in their vehicle while attending a demonstration at a public place
• Possess or sell ammunition designed to penetrate bulletproof vests
• Own a pistol if they were convicted of a violent crime or are a drug addict or an alcoholic
• Possess a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm at a public school

These restrictions can be confusing, and failure to navigate them correctly can sometimes result in criminal violations. In this situation, an attorney well-versed in Alabama’s gun laws could be necessary.

There are various punishments for each respective violation. For example, knowingly possessing a short-barreled rifle or shotgun is considered a Class C felony. This is punishable by up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

Providing false information to a firearms dealer is also a Class C felony and carries similar punishments. Firing a gun into an occupied building is considered a Class B felony under the statute and is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $30,000. It is worth remembering that in addition to fines and incarceration, a conviction could also take away a citizen’s right to own a firearm at all.

If you are faced with violations of Alabama’s gun laws, the importance of having a Jefferson County gun lawyer on your side cannot be overstated. Having legal representation could be crucial to lessening the consequences of a charge on your future lifestyle.

Whether the charge stems from inadvertently bringing a legally owned firearm to the wrong place, owning restricted ammunition, or giving a firearm as a gift to a minor, an advocate in the courtroom can go a long way towards protecting your rights today.