Weapons Violation Serving Families Throughout Jacksonville For Over 25 Years

Weapons Offense Attorney in Jacksonville

Defense Against Weapons Violations in Florida

Are you facing weapons charges in Jacksonville? If so, it’s important to protect your rights under the Second Amendment and Article 1, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution. Even though Florida has generous gun laws compared to other states, for example, citizens are NOT required to register their firearms, the penalties for violating one of the state’s gun laws can be severe and have life-altering consequences.

All Floridians should be aware that if they commit a crime and they use a firearm while committing the offense, they can face enhanced penalties. Under Section 775.087(1) of the Florida Statutes, whenever someone is charged with a felony offense, and during the commission of the crime they carry, display, use, threaten to use, or attempts to use a firearm, the crime will be elevated as follows:

A felony of the first degree will be elevated to a life felony
A felony of the second degree will be elevated to a first degree felony
A felony of the third degree will be elevated to a felony of the second degree

Prohibited Possessors in Florida

There are laws in place at both the federal and state levels to prevent certain individuals from gaining possession of firearms. These laws are in place for two reasons: to prevent violence and to punish criminals. Federally speaking, a person would be prohibited from gun ownership if they:

Have a felony conviction
Have been convicted of certain domestic violence crimes that are classified as misdemeanors
Have court orders due to domestic violence cases or grave mental illnesses

The state of Florida does not allow people to purchase or possess firearms if they:

Have any felony convictions or if they are younger than 24 and have been convicted of a crime that would be a felony if committed by someone older than 24
Have received a final injunction that is still in effect and intended to prevent that person from continuing to commit domestic violence
Are considered a violent career criminal under Florida law, which essentially means they have committed multiple felonies in a short amount of time
Have been legally considered mentally unwell (conserved people, prior mental institution stays, etc.)
Are under a protection order that specifically states they cannot possess or attempt to possess a firearm for the duration of the order

Florida recently legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Because marijuana is still considered a controlled substance in Florida, people who use it (even legally for medical purposes) cannot ship, receive, or possess a firearm. It is also illegal to sell a firearm to anyone who uses controlled substances.

Gun Charges in Jacksonville, Florida

If someone is caught possessing or using a gun in an illegal manner in Florida, they can expect severe consequences. The consequences for such an act depend on the exact circumstances surrounding the crime as well as the nature of the crime, however, some of the potential charges include:

3^rd degree felony charges for carrying a concealed firearm without a license. 3^rd degree felony convictions can lead to a prison sentence of up to 5 years, and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
Up to 1 year in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,000 for improper exhibition of a firearm, which is when someone uses a firearm in a manner that is careless or threatening.
Up to 15 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000 for possession of a firearm by someone who is a convicted felon.

Such charges have enhanced penalties if the weapon in question was used during a crime that had been commissioned:

If the person accused possessed a firearm, a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years will be given
If that weapon was fired, the mandatory minimum sentence will be increased to 20 years
If the discharge of the weapon resulted in someone becoming injured or dying, the mandatory minimum sentence will be increased to 25 years in prison

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Why Pick Porter™ for Weapons Defense?

In the face of weapons charges, you need a strong legal defense. Our founding attorney, Jason K.S. Porter, Esquire has garnered a reputation for excellence in the field of criminal law. In the legal community, his peers have recognized him with the Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rating®, and he has been awarded a 10.0 Superb Avvo Rating in criminal defense.

The above recognitions demonstrate Attorney Porter’s high standard of excellence in the legal field. Going further, with approximately 100 years of collective experience, our legal team stands ready to defend you against gun-related charges in Jacksonville.

Schedule your case evaluation – contact us online or call (904) 701-0591 today.

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"Mr. Porter and his staff are fantastic."
Mr. Porter and his staff are fantastic. They clearly explained the charges, potential outcomes and estimated timelines. They worked closely with me to tailor their services to my unique situation. The entire team demonstrated extensive knowledge of the law, flexibility, and responsiveness. These qualities helped put my mind at ease until they were able to get all charges against me dropped. I would highly recommend this law firm.

- P.B.
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I have been a client of the law firm since 2003. Every time I have "Picked Porter" I have received ethical advice and excellent legal representation. There has been times I have been referred outside of the law firm and the referrals have always been sound and very appropriate to the overall situation. The law firms family law, personal injury and criminal defense attorneys are well versed in their specialty and are very professional. If you have a problem, Pick Porter.

- Nicholas H.
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I had contacted Mr. Porter’s office after being in a car accident and having no success on my own with the insurance adjusters. Mr. Porter and his entire staff were all very engaged, expedient and supportive while working on my case. Any questions that I had, I could make a phone call and Hildy or Dani would be on the other end making things make sense to me. Ultimately, they delivered a great outcome that I was happy with. It was a huge weight off my shoulders to have the knowledge and support of Mr. Porter and his staff while navigating through the stress of everything that must be handled after a car accident. In the unfortunate event that I find myself in another similar situation, I won’t hesitate to pick up the phone and give them a call back! Thanks for everything!

- D.
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I am exceptionally pleased with the outstanding assistance Mr. Porter and his team have provided. Their expertise, dedication, and commitment to my husband’s case were truly remarkable. They navigated the complexities with ease, offered clear and strategic advice, and demonstrated a genuine concern for my family as well as my husband’s best interests. Mr. Porter and his team of attorneys professionalism, coupled with their exceptional communication skills, made the entire legal process smoother and more comprehensible. I am grateful for their remarkable support, and I wholeheartedly recommend their services.

- B.M.
"You really took years of stress off my shoulder and I can finally have clarity in my mind."
Over the past month or so I had made a call to the Law offices of Jason Porter because I needed to resolve an issue that occurred over 7 years ago. Once I explained the situation the secretary sent me directly to Jonathan Thacher. All I can say is that Thacher did an amazing job handling my case and I am extremely happy right now. I no longer have to worry about that problem ever again thanks to Thacher. The work was effective and everything went through perfectly. Thank you so much man you really took years of stress off my shoulder and I can finally have clarity in my mind.

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Mr. Porter and his staff do an incredible job! I would strongly recommend Mr. Porter, he is very easy to work with and does everything he can to help you in your situation.

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"Although I hope to never need their services again, if I do, I will definitely be giving them a call."
First and foremost, everyone from staff to the attorneys are all great!! I first started with the firm in 2015 and due to my own circumstances, I was unable to complete the needed court requirements in order to finalize my case. The amount I paid to retain an attorney was placed in a trust and they assured me it would be there until I completed my requirements. 4 years later they kept their word and finalized my case once I completed my needed court requirement. Everything was professional and in a timely fashion on their behalf. They also found a second issue that needed to be resolved and also completed that for me. Although I hope to never need their services again, if I do, I will definitely be giving them a call. Thank you, everyone!

- Erik R.
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Thank you to Nicole Carlucci and Ashley Chadwell for guiding me through my case. I would recommend them to anyone!

- M.F.

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