Charged with a Gun Crime in Pennsylvania? You Need Experienced Legal Representation
If you are facing charges involving firearms in Pennsylvania, you cannot afford to take chances with your defense. Not only do these charges carry serious penalties, but a conviction can continue to negatively impact your life long after you serve your sentence.
While some gun convictions eventually become eligible for expungement, most do not. As a result, in many cases, convictions involving firearms truly have lifelong consequences.
How can you avoid these consequences?
Hiring an experienced defense lawyer is the first step. Successfully defending against a gun charge requires in-depth knowledge of the specific charge you are facing and your constitutional rights.
This is true for charges pending in both state and federal court. Criminal defense attorney Frank Klopp is intimately familiar with the laws and constitutional principles that apply in gun cases—and he relies on this familiarity to defend his clients by all means available.
Defense Counsel for Serious Gun Cases in Pennsylvania
We defend clients who are facing all types of gun charges under state and federal law. This includes violations of Pennsylvania’s Uniform Firearms Act (VUFA charges) as well as charges under Title 18 of the U.S. Code. Some of the most common charges in gun cases include:
Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
Section 6105 of the Uniform Firearms Act makes it illegal for certain individuals to possess a firearm in Pennsylvania. This includes individuals who have been convicted of certain crimes and individuals who are subject to domestic violence restraining orders, among others.
Carrying a Firearm Without a License
Section 6106 of the Uniform Firearms Act makes it illegal to carry a firearm in a vehicle or to carry a concealed firearm in Pennsylvania without a license. Importantly, however, there are exceptions, and these exceptions will serve as a complete defense in some cases.
Minor in Possession of a Firearm
Subject to certain exceptions, Section 6110.1 of the Uniform Firearms Act makes it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to possess or transport a firearm.
Possession of a Firearm with an Altered or Obliterated Serial Number
One provision of the Uniform Firearms Act that is not subject to exceptions is Section 6110.2. This section of the law makes it a felony offense to possess a firearm “which has had the manufacturer’s number integral to the frame or receiver altered, changed, removed or obliterated.”
Federal Gun Charges
In many cases, gun-related allegations can lead to federal charges as well. In federal gun cases under 18 U.S.C. Section 922 (which establishes a long list of gun-related offenses), defendants can face substantial fines and years (or decades) of federal imprisonment.
Discuss Your Gun Case with Criminal Defense Attorney Frank Klopp in Confidence
If you are facing any of these charges (or any other charges) in Pennsylvania, we encourage you to contact us promptly to discuss your defense by calling (484) 339-3003 or request a consultation online today.