Gun Charges Lawyer in St. Louis
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This content has been written and edited by professional legal writers and individually reviewed and verified by Christopher Combs and Steven Waterkotte, attorneys who have over 40 combined years in the criminal defense industry.
Gun Charges Lawyer in St Louis:
Protecting Your Freedom
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Gun Charges Lawyer in St. Louis
While the state of Missouri is largely pro-firearm, with regulations relating to matters like concealed carry being loosened in recent years, its state laws against illegal weapons are some of the harshest around. In addition, the definition of "illegal weapon" is not just limited to firearms – knives, explosives, and even pellet guns are included in these laws.
You don't have to go through this alone. Contact one of our defense lawyers today at (314) 900-HELP to protect your freedom.
If you have a felony conviction on your record, not only can you not legally possess a firearm, but if you are caught with one you could also face federal charges, with the lengthy sentences to match.
Combs Waterkotte has helped many people from St. Louis and across Missouri who have been accused of gun charges. Our firm works closely with our clients to build a defense strategy tailor-made for their individual cases.
Punishments for Missouri gun charges vary widely. Additionally, certain crimes, like assault and battery, carry stiffer penalties if they allegedly occurred when you had a gun on your person. Being in possession of a firearm while also having an illegal drug, with the exception of small quantities of cannabis, is a class E felony punishable by up to four years in state prison.
Furthermore, if you have been convicted of a number of other crimes, owning a firearm is a federal weapons offense. These restrictions apply to:
- Those who were dishonorably discharged from the military
- Anyone convicted of misdemeanor domestic assault
- Anyone currently subject to an order of protection related to a domestic dispute
- Anyone under the age of 18
As your Missouri gun charge lawyer, we'll work to have your charges reduced if not completely dismissed. If the evidence is stacked against you, we can negotiate with prosecutors to reach a plea bargain to significantly reduce the punishment for the offense and avoid jail time.
But, the Combs Waterkotte gun charge lawyers in St. Louis are at our best in the courtroom; we are not afraid to take your case to trial in search of a not-guilty verdict if we have to. Our goal is total client satisfaction and, to that end, our attorneys will always be available for you to answer any and all questions you may have about your St. Louis or Missouri gun charges case. Feel free to contact us online for a confidential review of the specifics of your case.
How a Gun Charge Lawyer in Missouri Can Help
If you’ve been charged with a gun crime in St. Louis or elsewhere in Missouri, it’s vitally important to do two things: remain calm and remember your rights. Then, stick to your Miranda Rights. You have a right to remain silent, and a right to an attorney. Seek out an attorney as soon as possible.
What a Combs Waterkotte gun charges lawyer does:
- Listen to your side of the story
- Conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the allegations, and into law enforcement’s own investigation
- Make sure your Fourth Amendment, Fifth Amendment or Sixth Amendment rights were not violated
- Work with you to develop a legal strategy that best protects your freedom and future
What happens when you DON’T choose a Combs Waterkotte gun charges lawyer:
- Run the risk of your version of events not being heard or not being applied
- Take your chances with another firm’s investigatory tactics
- Run the risk of your Fourth Amendment, Fifth Amendment, and Sixth Amendment rights being violated with no discourse
- Roll the dice with a possible one-size-fits-all type of legal strategy
What Are Missouri’s Gun Laws?
The state has long been considered to have a permissive view regarding the Second Amendment, and over the past few years Missouri lawmakers have expanded the right to bear arms to make Missouri one of America’s most gun-friendly states. The state no longer requires a license or advanced training to carry a firearm (under a principle known as “constitutional carry“), although concealed carry permits are still issued. Missouri law also incorporates the castle doctrine, which eliminates the duty to retreat when someone is inside their own home.
Where Is it Illegal to Carry a Gun in St. Louis and Missouri?
Missouri also places few limitations on where guns cannot be carried: Missouri Revised Statute §571.107 defines this list, which includes:
- Any police, sheriff or highway patrol office station (without the permission of the chief officer in charge)
- Within 25 feet of any polling place on election day
- Any adult or juvenile detention or correctional institution, prison or jail
- Courthouses or court offices
- Any meeting of a government body
- Any licensed alcohol vendor
- Airports (past security checkpoints)
- Schools, colleges and universities
- Parts of a building used as a child care facility
- Any riverboat gambling operation accessible by the public
- Gated areas of an amusement park
- Any private property whose owner has placed notices that the premises is off-limits for firearms
- Sports arenas or stadiums with a capacity of 5,000 or more
- Hospitals
Types of Gun Violations and Charges in St. Louis and Missouri
While Missouri laws regarding guns may seem permissive to the outsider, certain uses of them are still illegal. Under RSMo §571.030 these include:
- Setting a spring-gun
- Discharging or shooting into a dwelling, house, railroad train, boat, aircraft, motor vehicle, or any other building or structure where people gather
- Brandishing or waving a gun in a threatening manner
- While intoxicated, negligently handling or using a gun, or discharging a gun while not in self-defense
- Discharging a firearm within 100 yards of a school, courthouse or church
- Discharging a firearm on, along or across a public highway
- Carrying a firearm into a place of worship, into an election precinct on election day or any building operated by a government agency
- Shooting into or out of a motor vehicle
- Shooting at any person, motor vehicle or building while not acting in self-defense
- Carries a firearm into a school, onto a school bus or any activity sponsored by a school
- Defacing a firearm (removing or concealing a serial number)
Possessing A Gun In Missouri As A Felon
If someone in Missouri has been convicted of a felony, regardless of whether they have entirely completed their sentence, they are barred for life from carrying a firearm unless it is strictly for hunting purposes. The penalty for this is a class D felony, which carries along with it a sentence that ranges from one year in county jail to up to seven years in Missouri state prison. If you were convicted of a “dangerous felony” as defined under RSMo §556.061, you can be charged with a class C felony. According to RSMo §571.010, it is not illegal to possess an antique firearm.
Contact An Experienced St. Louis, MO Gun Charge Lawyer
Between federal and state charges, and the ever-changing nature of Missouri’s gun laws, if you are facing gun charges in St. Louis, contacting a reputable St. Louis gun crimes attorney is your best bet. Combs Waterkotte has worked with all sorts of St. Louis-area and other Missouri residents who have been accused of violating state and federal firearms laws. Our firm will work tirelessly to get you the best outcome for your case, whether it is a plea deal, a winning trial strategy, or outright dismissal of your charges.
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Guiding you through the entire process, from start to finish.
We know most people who come to us haven't had to deal with the justice system in this way before. We understand how overwhelming and confusing the process can be, which is why we ensure clarity and support at every turn. From our initial consultation to the the final resolution of your case we strive to make the process easy for you to understand and leave you without any doubts that your case is being handled the right way.
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Whether you've got questions about what to do when served with an order of protection, the juvenile delinquency process, how to defend a DWI case or anything in between, we have answers. Check out our blog and FAQs for answers to common questions, or contact Combs Waterkotte today to speak directly to an attorney about your case.
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