State law regulates the use and possession of firearms and restricts where people may carry their weapons. Additionally, the law establishes higher penalties for crimes involving the alleged use of a weapon. Any conviction for a gun-related offense can come with severe consequences, making it important for those accused to seek legal counsel.

An East Windsor gun lawyer could help you to fight the charges and mitigate the potential penalties. At Ruane Attorneys, our skilled legal team can work to contest the accusations against you, whether they involve illegal possession or use of a weapon.

Charges that Allege the Illegal Use of Firearms

The most serious charges involving the illegal use of firearms are those that result from an alleged use of a gun as a tool to commit another crime. Merely having a gun in one’s possession will result in the core criminal allegation rising to a more severe level. These types of elevated charges are common in cases involving:

• Assaults
• Drug sales
• Burglaries
• Robberies

An East Windsor gun attorney could help to dispute whether a firearm was present at the scenes of these alleged crimes to defeat the charges or obtain a reduced penalty.

Possessing a Gun During a Felony

In addition, having a firearm in one’s possession during the commission of a felony is a separate criminal offense. Under Connecticut General Statute § 53a-216, a class A, B, or C felony while in possession of a gun adds an additional five-year prison sentence after a finding of guilt for the core offense. A lawyer at our East Windsor office could help to fight back against these severe weapon-related offenses.

Who May Legally Possess a Gun in East Windsor?

Not every allegation of illegal gun use is an outright accusation of criminal activity. In other cases, a person may face criminal charges related to the illegal possession of firearms. For instance, a prosecutor may allege that a person possessed a weapon that is per se illegal.

State law says that it is a criminal offense for certain people to ever possess a gun. For example, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-217 says that a person with a felony conviction in any state cannot legally possess a firearm in Connecticut. Under this law, a conviction comes with a mandatory-minimum two-year prison sentence.

Harsh penalties can also result from allegations of possessing an illegal firearm. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-211 says that people may not own sawed-off shotguns. Other laws place strict limits on machine gun ownership. A local firearm lawyer at our firm could work to develop a defense against allegations of improper weapon ownership.

Speak with an East Windsor Gun Attorney Today

Gun charges can come with severe penalties upon conviction. Even an allegation of illegally bringing a gun into a restricted area can result in jail time and a loss of a firearm license. Allegations related to the illegal possession of these items or their unlawful use can lead to more severe consequences.

At Ruane Attorneys, our East Windsor gun lawyers are here to protect your best interests after an arrest for a firearm charge. Our team can work to explain your rights under the law, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the prosecutor’s case, and develop a defense to combat the charges against you. Give us a call now to discuss your case.