In Mississippi, ownership of firearms is a part of our culture. The individual right to bear arms, as the U.S. Supreme Court has recently pointed out, is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the Constitution. This right, however, has many limitations. For example, you must have a permit to carry a concealed weapon, and if you are a convicted felon you cannot possess a firearm in most instances. If you violate these restrictions, or commit a criminal offense with the use of a weapon, these additional violations will be added to your underlying criminal offenses, or they will enhance those offenses to a more serious offense. If you are convicted, it could add serious prison time to your sentence. Clarence has extensive experience with firearms, and firearms offenses, and will provide aggressive, attentive and diligent representation to clients charged with these crimes.
Some common firearms offenses include:
- Felon in possession
- Illegal possession of class III weapons (machine guns) and assault weapons
- Brandishing or discharging a firearm
- Concealed carry violations
- Illegal trafficking or purchases
- Enhanced felony charges and penalties for possession of a weapon while committing another crime
These charges can be in either state or federal court, and prosecutors and judges take them very seriously. They have lasting repercussions, as they will probably appear on your record, and could potentially scare future employers and hinder job search efforts. And finally, the government usually seeks a forfeiture of the weapon in dispute, and tries to take it away from you.
Clarence will thoroughly investigate how the police collected and preserved evidence in your firearms case. He will be quick to bring search and seizure problems to the court’s attention. Other areas that will often need to be addressed in firearms cases are fingerprint issues, powder residue, and where the weapon has been. Details are important, and it is going to be difficult to get answers without help. Criminal defense attorney Clarence Guthrie handles weapons offenses in state and federal courtrooms throughout Mississippi, and he will help you if he can.
If you would like to discuss your weapons or firearms case with us, please call The Guthrie Firm, PLLC at (601) 991-1099 or contact us online. We are here to help.
