Charges for Crimes Involving Guns In Frisco
As an open carry state, Texas grants residents the right to carry long guns openly in public and to carry handguns without a permit in most public settings. While the personal philosophies on guns can vary greatly, it’s important to understand how the law in Frisco addresses gun crimes while allowing for the ownership or usage of personal weapons. If you have been charged for such a crime, you need a qualified criminal defense lawyer like Philip D. Ray. He is an exceptional advocate for his clients accused of violating the law.
Types of Illegal Weapons
It’s important to make distinctions between guns and other weapons when considering legal ownership and usage. For example, while the state currently allows open carry for guns, the state does not allow other weapons such as brass knuckles and blunt instruments typically referred to as blackjacks.
That being said, certain rules apply to firearms as well. Frisco law does not allow:
• Zip guns or any kind of homemade handguns, although exceptions can be made by petition to register the weapon in question under federal law.
• Sawed-off shotguns and other short-barrel firearms, although the owner can petition the federal government to register the weapon
• Gun silencers
• Armor-piercing bullets, unless validly registered under federal law
If you have been arrested for violating any of the above, you will need a good criminal defense. These charges are to be taken seriously and if you wan to avoid fines or jail time, you need an excellent criminal defense lawyer.
Concealed Licenses
While the state does have an open carry policy, residents can apply for a concealed handgun license. To qualify, the individual must have no felony convictions or any pending criminal charges; must not have any restraining orders placed against them; and be current with any applicable fees including government payments, taxes, or child support payments.
Prohibited Individuals
The Texas Penal Code classifies the unlawful possession of a firearm as a Class A misdemeanor. The code also classifies unlawful possession as a third-degree felony for anyone with an existing felony record.
Individuals prohibited from possessing a firearm in Frisco, Texas, include:
• Individuals that have been convicted of a felony and confined for 5 years
• Individuals convicted of domestic assault and have not been released from confinement or community supervision after a five-year period
• Individuals with an active restraining order placed against them by a state employee
PENALTIES FOR A WEAPONS CHARGE IN FRISCO
Penalties for a conviction of a weapons charge in Frisco can include:
• Class A misdemeanor: 1 year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.
• Class B misdemeanor: $2,000 in fines and up to 180 days in prison.
• State jail felony: Convicted individuals face between 180 days to 2 years in jail and a fine maxing out at $10,000.
• First-degree felony: A fine not to exceed $10,000, and jail time ranging from 5 to 99 years or possibly life.
• Second-degree felony: Jail time ranging from 2 to 20 years and a maximum of $10,000.
• Third-degree felony: 2 to 10 years in jail and a fine not to exceed $10,000.
Firing a gun in public outside of Frisco limits can result in a disorderly conduct charge, classified as a Class B misdemeanor. But do so within city limits and the charge gets upgraded to a Class A misdemeanor.
Frisco also forbids providing a handgun to anyone suspected of planning to commit a crime, selling ammunition to a convicted felon, and providing a firearm to a minor.
If you have been accused of violating a gun law in Frisco, Texas, contact the Law Offices of Philip D. Ray today.