Houston Weapons Charge Attorneys

Experienced Houston Weapons Charge Attorney

The Houston weapons charge attorneys at Mercer & Keirnan Criminal Defense Attorneys have over 40 years of experience defending the following firearm and weapons charges in Houston:

Unlawful Possession of a Weapon
Felon in Possession of a Weapon
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Discharging a Firearm in a Public Place
Threat with a Deadly Weapon
Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Theft of a Firearm
Sale of an Illegal Weapon or Gun
Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in an Airport

If you or someone you know has been charged with a gun charge or weapons charge in Houston, Harris County, Texas call 713-236-9700 and schedule a free consultation with Houston weapons charge attorneys Michael D. Mercer and John "Casey" Keirnan. Learn about the defenses in your case. Do the most you can to ensure you get the best possible result in your weapons charge case.

EXPERIENCED WEAPONS CHARGE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS

AVAILABLE 24/7 - (713) 236-9700

Criminal Defense Areas

Weapons Charges in Houston, TX

Possessing a weapon is a constitutional right enjoyed particularly by Texas citizens. Not surprisingly, weapons charges in Houston, TX are very common. If you are going to possess a gun or a weapon in Texas, become knowledgeable about gun laws to avoid facing potential misdemeanor or felony weapons charges in Houston, Texas.

To protect the safety of its citizens, Texas enumerates certain laws to restrict the types of guns that can be purchased, the types of persons who may carry guns and weapons and the areas in which guns and weapons can be carried. Weapons free zones include schools, a polling place on election day, a court of law, the airport and the racetrack. If you have previously been convicted of a felony, you are prohibited from owning a weapon.

A violation of Texas gun laws can be either a misdemeanor charge or a felony and carries swift and harsh punishment, including jail time, community supervision, fines and court costs. Catching a weapons charge in Houston may cause you to lose your job. Anyone facing a weapons charge or a gun case in Houston, Harris County, Texas should contact an experienced weapons charge defense lawyer in order to evaluate their case and determine any defenses available.

Houston Weapons Charge Attorney with 40 Years of Experience

Attorney John "Casey" Keirnan has over 40 years of experience as a Houston Gun Charge Attorney, defending any and all gun charges and weapons charges in and around Houston, Texas. The increase in gun violence across Texas and the U.S. is pushing prosecutors to become more harsh on people facing weapons charges. If you are a felon and you are found in possession of a weapon, you are facing between 2 and 10 years in prison. Anyone with multiple felonies on their background is facing even more prison time. Needless to say, experience matters when it comes to finding a weapons charge defense lawyer to represent you against the State of Texas.

Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon Charge in Texas

What if I have a license to carry a handgun? Can I still get arrested for a gun charge in Houston? Absolutely. Become familiar with the new definition of Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon under Texas' newly enacted gun laws in 2021. It may seem like Texas lets anyone and everyone carry a gun whenever and wherever they want, but this is not true. If you are not familiar with Texas gun laws you may find yourself fighting Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon Charges. Under Texas Penal Code Section 46.02, a person commits the offense of "Unlawful Carrying of Weapon" if:

the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun; and
is not: (A) on the person's own premises or premises under the person's control; or (B) inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle or watercraft that is owned by the person or under the person's control.

Under Texas law, it is illegal to possess a gun or firearm in the following situations:

If you are drinking and driving, you may not possess a weapon
a prior felony conviction prevents you from lawfully possessing a weapon and will result in a 3rd degree felon in possession of a weapon charge
anyone previously convicted of Assault on a Family Member (this is temporary)
If you are committing a crime while possessing the firearm
Carrying a weapon in your vehicle or on your person that is not concealed (without a CHL)
Unlawful carrying of a weapon while in possession of a controlled substance

Felon in Possession of a Weapon Charges

Texas law prevents anyone with a prior felony conviction to possess a weapon or firearm. A felon in possession of a weapon charge in Texas is a 3rd degree felony and carries a minimum sentence of 2 years in prison and a maximum of 10 years. One common defense to a felon in possession of a weapon charge has to do with the term "possession". Title 1, Section 1.07 of the Texas Penal Code defines "possession" as actual, care, custody, control or management of the weapon. This may provide an effective defense to someone charged with Felon in Possession if the person was arrested in a vehicle with other people inside. Depending on where the weapon was found, a good weapons charge defense lawyer may be able to show that his client did not have possession of the weapon. An affidavit from the actual owner of the weapon would be very helpful for this defense.

To ensure you get the best defense possible for your felon in possession of a weapon case, call the experienced Houston Weapons Charge Attorneys at Mercer and Keirnan Criminal Defense Attorneys. Speak directly with Mr. Mercer or Mr. Keirnan by calling 713-236-9700, day or night. You can also request a free case evaluation.