Arizona gives law-abiding citizens the right to carry guns, openly or concealed, if they have the proper permit. While gun ownership rights may be more expansive in Arizona than in other places, the State still punishes individuals charged with gun and weapons crimes. Prison sentences, fines, and other penalties are all possible consequences of conviction.
A Glendale violent crimes defense lawyer from Suzuki Law Offices is equipped to give you the defense you need to protect your future. Founding attorney Robert Suzuki’s prior experience as a federal prosecutor gives our team critical insight when building your defense strategy. Put your case in the hands of an experienced, effective Glendale gun and weapons crime defense lawyer from our firm today.
Why You Need Aggressive Representation from a Glendale Gun and Weapons Crime Defense Attorney
Conviction on a gun and weapons charge can land you behind bars and drain your finances. It can also affect your employment prospects, costing you your job if you go to prison and limiting your employment options upon release. Housing may also be a problem. Landlords may not want to rent or lease property to someone with a criminal record.
Your family relationships can suffer from separation and financial distress, and so can your reputation. You may not be welcome in certain social circles with a conviction on your record. A Glendale criminal defense lawyer will work diligently to protect you from these potential consequences. After your arrest, connect with our team right away.
We can tell you what you need to know if you are arrested for a crime in Arizona and build you a strong defense. By forming an immediate legal partnership with us, you protect yourself from saying anything that could be used against you or making other mistakes that could damage your case.
Committed to providing exceptional legal service to each and every client through integrity, compassion and experience.
Get StartedTypes of Guns and Weapons Charges
The Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) has specific laws relating to weapons and gun use. A full understanding of these laws requires knowing what a deadly weapon is. In Arizona, a deadly weapon is “anything designed to be lethal or capable of causing death.” This definition opens up a lot of possibilities and includes what the State calls “dangerous instruments.” Examples include:
- Assault rifles
- Handguns
- Machetes and combat knives
- Explosive devices
- Brass knuckles
The deadliness of the weapon is often determined by the user’s intent. If the alleged perpetrator used the instrument to inflict harm or the threat of harm, the weapon could be classified as deadly.
Misconduct Involving Weapons
Under Arizona law, misconduct involving weapons makes it unlawful for a person to knowingly:
- Carry a deadly weapon other than a pocket knife concealed on their body, in their immediate control, or in their vehicle in the furtherance of committing a crime, or if a law enforcement officer asks if they are carrying
- Carry a deadly weapon if they are under age 21
- Possess a deadly weapon when they are a “prohibited possessor” under the law
- Sell or transfer the weapon to a prohibited possessor
- Deface a deadly weapon
The laws offer additional criteria for misconduct involving weapons offenses, and a gun and weapons crime defense lawyer in Glendale can fight to make sure the prosecution’s charges do not exceed the limits of the law.
Unlawful Discharge of Firearms
A person can be charged with the unlawful discharge of a firearm if, with criminal negligence, they discharge “a firearm within or into the limits of any municipality.” The law defines a municipality as “any city or town” and includes property that is “fully enclosed within the city or town.”
There are several exceptions to this rule, some specifically applying to hunting or removing nuisance wildlife, or if the discharge occurs as part of animal control services. Firearm discharge is also not unlawful within a municipality if it occurs on a “properly supervised range.”
Lawyer Near Me 602-682-5270Building Your Gun and Weapons Charges Defense
Suzuki Law Offices will fight to have your charges dismissed altogether or reduced. We want to protect you from harsh penalties and unfair treatment–you have rights, and we will defend them aggressively and with integrity. We are dedicated to bringing every case to the most favorable resolution available.
Since police cannot frisk citizens carrying guns without cause, we will first examine the specifics of your arrest to see if you were the victim of an unlawful arrest. We will also analyze the charges to make sure they are not a prosecutorial overreach. Your situation may present mitigating factors that diminish your potential culpability. If so, we will present these factors to the court.
Your gun and weapons crime defense attorney in Glendale will conduct a full investigation of the incident leading to your arrest and construct a powerful defense to fight whatever charges remain. Our team knows how to gather and present convincing evidence and how to anticipate the prosecution’s moves. We take no shortcuts and come to every trial-related proceeding ready to fight.
Your Right to Self-Protect
Depending on your case specifics, we may build a strategy based on Arizona’s law regarding self-protection. The prosecution may have read the situation wrong. You may have used your weapon to protect yourself or someone else from an attack, and ARS ARS 13-404 codifies your right to defend yourself.
Also, you have the right to use deadly physical force to protect yourself against someone trying to hurt you, or when it is reasonable to believe another party is going to attempt to use deadly force against you. Further, if you are in a place legally and not engaged in unlawful activity, the law imposes no “duty to retreat” before using deadly physical force to protect yourself.
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Suzuki is Your Lawyer; Call Today
Suzuki Law Offices is available 24/7–we are always here when you need us. Our team is committed to justice and dedicated to providing clients with exceptional, attentive representation. If you are in trouble, Suzuki is your lawyer.
Our Glendale gun and weapons crime defense lawyer is ready to put the full extent of our energy, insight, experience, and resources into your case.
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