Firearm Violation Defense in Michigan
If you’re charged with a gun crime, get the right defense attorney
The right to keep and bear arms is enshrined in both the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and in Article 1, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution, but like all rights, it comes with limits. Gun crimes can carry substantial penalties that derail your future for many years. That’s why you need to fight back with the right firearm violation defense attorney on your side.
Manley & Manley has the experience and resources to stand up for gun owners in Flint and throughout Michigan. We have a winning record in complex, high-profile criminal cases and go the distance to get your life back on track. If you’re facing charges for a firearm violation, contact us right away.
What are firearms charges in Michigan?
Michigan has many laws concerning the possession, use, manufacturing, and sale of guns, including several that impose criminal penalties. We defend all types of gun crimes in Michigan, including:
- Carrying a Concealed Weapon without a license to carry. In Michigan, carrying a concealed pistol on your body or in your vehicle without a license is illegal. This also applies to concealed stabbing or cutting weapons except for hunting knives when carried as such.
- Illegal Possession of a Firearm – certain firearms are illegal in Michigan, including short-barreled shotguns or rifles, armor-piercing ammunition, and semiautomatic firearms modified into fully automatic guns. It’s also illegal to possess an unmarked firearm.
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm – convicted felons who have not had their firearm rights restored can be hit with additional felony charges in Michigan.
Being convicted of any of these charges will put a felony on your record. In addition to incarceration and fines, that means you will lose your right to own a gun and possibly your right to vote. You may have a harder time finding a job or a place to live, and you may be unable to qualify for professional licenses. In short, a weapon violation can change your life forever. You need a proven weapons defense attorney to fight back.
How do we defend weapons charges?
Several defenses can be used to dispute a firearms charge. Some of the legal strategies we use include the following:
- Illegal search – To pat you down, the police need reasonable grounds to believe you have a weapon and pose a threat to safety. To arrest you and search you for weapons, they need probable cause. The police also need probable cause or your consent to search your vehicle. If we can show that the police found your firearm during an illegal search, we can get the evidence thrown out, which often means the charges will be dropped.
- Illegal traffic stop – Many firearm charges arise when an officer finds a weapon during a traffic stop. To pull you over, an officer needs reasonable suspicion that you were doing something illegal; if they didn’t have grounds for the traffic stop, we may be able to suppress any evidence discovered during the stop.
- Did not knowingly possess – The prosecution may not be able to prove that you knowingly possessed an illegal or concealed weapon.
Depending on the circumstances, we may be able to get your charges dropped entirely or reduced to a lesser offense. Michigan’s gun laws are complex; with an attorney who knows the law and the courts on your side, you can navigate the system and find an effective legal strategy to protect your rights.
Talk to an experienced Michigan firearms defense attorney today
Being charged with a firearms violation can affect you for the rest of your life. The sooner you get an experienced defense attorney on your side, the better. We need to start our investigation and start protecting your rights right away.
If you’re facing firearms charges in Michigan, we are the defense attorneys you want on your side. Contact us online or give us a call today to schedule your free case evaluation.
