As a California resident, you are permitted to purchase weapons and possess them, but you must abide by specific state laws to avoid weapons charges
If you’re accused of inappropriately using a firearm or other weapons violations, we encourage you to work with a Huntington Park weapons charges lawyer to defend yourself against those accusations.
Working with a criminal defense lawyer in Huntington Park allows you to put your future in the hands of an experienced legal professional. The legal team with Simmrin Law Group has decades of legal experience that we’re prepared to put to work for you. You can count on our representation in and out of criminal court as we build your defense and assess your plea deals.
You don’t have to go through California’s criminal circuit alone if you’re accused of violating the state’s weapons laws. Instead, let our attorneys with experience in over 100 jury trials advocate for you.
How Does California Regulate the Right to Bear Arms?
California’s firearm laws are designed to preserve residents’ right to bear arms while simultaneously preserving residents’ everyday safety. The state has recently increased weapons sale regulations and can impose severe consequences against anyone accused of:
- Inappropriately concealing a weapon
- Brandishing a weapon in public
- Negligently discharging a firearm
- Using a firearm in tandem with other criminal activities
The sale of a controlled weapon without a license can result in criminal consequences, including up to six months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.
Anyone found in possession of a firearm after having their right to possess a firearm, usually after a previous criminal conviction, may also face fines of up to $10,000 and three years in prison.
Fortunately, anyone accused of their first or subsequent weapons charges has the right to reach out to a Huntington Park weapons charge attorney.
The team with Simmrin Law Group can address gun charges as well as charges accusing a person of possessing other controlled weapons (nunchucks, HEMA weapons) or the use of a weapon to commit another crime.
Carrying Concealed Weapons
California states that it is illegal to conceal a weapon of any kind while you are out in public. This includes nunchucks, tasers, knives, and guns. Concealing a weapon can see you jailed for up to three years and forced to pay fines of as much as $10,000.
However, there are exceptions to this ruling. If you have a valid concealed carry weapon permit, you may avoid the consequences for obscuring your possession.
Openly Carrying a Gun
While you may not conceal any of the aforementioned controlled weapons, you can retain most of them in public, provided you are abiding by California’s state laws.
However, carrying a gun openly can constitute illegal conduct, whether it’s loaded or not. If you’re accused of openly carrying a gun, you’re at risk for:
- Up to three years in jail
- Several thousand dollars in fines
Exceptions apply if you’re a member of law enforcement, if you can prove your participation in a gun club, or if you have an applicable concealed carry weapons permit.
Brandishing a Weapon
You may carry a gun as part of a gun club or as part of your job and not necessarily face criminal charges. Brandishing a gun or another weapon under other circumstances can see you face criminal charges.
Guns, baseball bats, clubs, knives, and tasers all constitute controlled weapons and can land you in trouble if you draw them during a fight when you’re not defending yourself. Dogs and other animals may also constitute weapons in the eyes of the law if you use them to enact unprovoked violence against another person.
You can also face accusations of brandishing a weapon against another person while using an improvised weapon, including broken glass, cups, tire irons, and craftsman’s tools. You risk three years of imprisonment if you don’t challenge the brandishing charges brought against you.
Negligent Discharge of a Firearm
California has specific legislation in place designed to punish the people that the state believes have recklessly endangered the public with their use of controlled weapons. Regardless of whether or not you have a CCW permit, you may face criminal accusations if you negligently discharge a weapon and endanger the general public.
Negligently discharging a nonlethal firearm like a BB gun can result in misdemeanor charges, leading to fines of up to $1,000 and a year in jail.
However, if you discharge a deadly weapon, you may face up to three years in county jail and fines of up to $10,000. Sentencing enhancements can compound your charges if you injure or kill someone.
For a free legal consultation with a weapons charges lawyer serving Huntington Park, call (310) 896-2723
When Should You Contact a Huntington Park Weapons Charges Lawyer?
If you’re accused of any of the aforementioned crimes, you have the right to remain silent and the right to contact an attorney. Our weapons charges attorneys in Huntington Park recommend that you do not speak to police officers until you have a defense attorney on site with you. Cooperate with officers, but do not give them any material to use against you.
Working with our experienced criminal defense lawyers gives you the opportunity to discuss the severity of the charges brought against you with someone who understands the law. We can craft a defense to suit your specific circumstances.
Our attorneys can also protect you from the prosecution’s attempts to misconstrue your arrest or otherwise misrepresent your circumstances.
Huntington Park Weapons Charges Lawyer Near Me (310) 896-2723
Can a Weapons Conviction Count Against California’s Three Strike Law?
If you’ve been convicted of other weapons charges before, or if you have an extensive criminal record and are facing new weapons charges, you need to know about California’s Three Strikes Law. An extensive criminal record may put you at risk for 25 years to life in prison if you don’t challenge the new charges brought against you.
You can avoid putting yourself at risk for a “strike” by working with an experienced criminal defense attorney to challenge the unreasonable criminal accusations brought against you.
Simmrin Law Group always strives to make our services available to anyone who needs help fighting back against weapons charges and other allegations of illegal conduct.
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How to Defend Against Weapons Charges in Huntington Park
You can create a unique defense against California weapons charges alongside a Huntington Park, CA, weapons charges attorney.
The most common charges may include the following:
- Inadequate evidence of possession
- Illegal search and seizure or another violation of your rights
- Use of a controlled weapon in self-defense
- Lack of evidence proving aggravated assault or other crimes involving your alleged possession of a controlled weapon
- Failure to prove beyond a reasonable doubt
You can circumstantially argue that you accidentally discharged a controlled firearm, but only in circumstances where you’ve been accused of a reckless discharge or a crime resulting in the injury or death of another person by firearm.
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Let Experienced Huntington Park Weapons Charges Lawyers Advocate for You
While California allows its residents to bear arms, people who purchase firearms must abide by a strict set of laws if they want to avoid facing legal consequences for the alleged misuse of their weapons.
If you’re accused of brandishing a weapon, openly carrying a weapon, illegally concealing a weapon, or inappropriately discharging a gun, you need legal support.
Fortunately, Simmrin Law Group is on your side. You can count on our experienced weapons charges attorneys in Huntington Park, CA, to break down your charges and defend you against the prosecution’s accusations. That support can be the difference between a criminal conviction and the preservation of your rights.
You can reach out to Simmrin Law Group and request a defense consultation with our team today.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form