Home › Firearms & weapons
The whole idea in one picture
It usually comes down to one thing: a weapon, and no lawful right to have it. Here's how these matters tend to unfold — from the item, to the penalties.
These laws split into firearms (guns) and other weapons. Here's what each side commonly covers.
Each of these has its own page with the detail in plain language:
A firearm or weapon charge most often follows one of these:
Where the case is heard depends on how serious it is:
Penalties where you are
The top end is for serious offences like possessing a prohibited firearm without authority.
Every case turns on its own facts, but these are the kinds of arguments a lawyer might use:
You were unaware the weapon was in your possession.
You had a genuine reason — like a licensed security guard or farmer.
You only held it briefly to prevent harm.
The weapon was found through an improper search or police misconduct.
These charges range from minor to very serious — we can point you to criminal lawyers who handle firearm and weapon matters in your state.
Read this first
This page explains how these charges generally work — it can't tell you what will happen in your case. Penalties shown are the legal maximums, which courts rarely reach for lower-level matters. If you've been charged, talk to a criminal lawyer before deciding anything.
