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Facing criminal charges is something no one wants to go through, but it's essential people know what to do to defend themselves from those charges.
This is when a criminal defense attorney comes in handy since they can help people understand the charges against them, why they are facing them, and what to do to get a non-guilty verdict. However, everyone needs a criminal defense attorney that is qualified and experienced enough to help them.
Although Texas doesn't have that many restrictions regarding holding and using firearms, there are still some regulations and violations that could result in firearms crimes, so it's ideal to understand how those crimes work and what can cause people to face those charges.
People looking for an experienced criminal defense lawyer can always count on the Sparks Law Firm. Apart from addressing other cases, this law firm has excellent criminal lawyers who can guide their clients through all the criminal processes and get the best verdict they can get.
Anyone can go to the Sparks Law Firm website to get a free consultation of their case!
What Are Firearms Crimes?
Firearm crimes, as their name suggests, involve any crime related to unlawful possession of a firearm or doing something unlawful with that gun. Texas is an open-carry state, and it doesn't have as many regulations as other states have, but it still has some of them.
Texas citizens, for example, don't need an LTC to carry handguns in public places, but they can't have them on college campuses and similar places. Gun carriers also have the duty to inform.
Therefore, failing to inform the possession of a firearm or unlawfully carrying it on a college campus could make the person doing that face criminal charges, so they will need a criminal defense lawyer to take care of the matter for them.
It's also worth noting that the Castle Doctrine applies in Texas, so most crimes regarding carrying firearms are related to domestic violence, public disorder, or unlawful possession.
Everyone in the state must follow federal and state regulations if they don't want to face criminal offenses in the future, and that includes people with an LTC, so they can't do what they want just for having a license.
Who Can Have a Firearm in Texas?
As was mentioned before, Texas is an open-carry state, and people don't need an LTC to carry handguns, so most criminal offenses in the state are about people carrying guns in places they shouldn't rather than other things.
18-year-old citizens can buy some long arms but are not allowed to carry handguns. People over 21 are free to have both handguns and long arms even if they don't have a license as long as they don't carry their guns in places that restrict open carry.
These are some of the restrictions that make people ineligible for buying guns or getting an LTC:
Having felony convictions or misdemeanors
Being in debt with loans or taxes
Suffering from specific psychological conditions
Alcohol or chemical dependency
Having pending criminal cases
Having restraining or protective orders
With that being said, these are some of the places where people can't hold firearms according to Texas criminal law, regardless of whether they have an LTC or not:
Schools
Federal facilities
Hospitals
Correctional facilities
Some airport areas
While being intoxicated with any kind of psychotropic substances
College campuses
Some amusement parks
Public sporting events
Do Firearm Crimes Stay on the Defendant's Criminal Record for Life?
The short answer is no since people can always ask for an order of nondisclosure to either seal or expunge firearm crimes from their permanent criminal record. People can only try to seal their offenses with the help of a firearms defense attorney in Fort Worth a time after the initial trial took place, so they still have to wait some time to do it.
Regardless of that, everything depends on the criminal offense the defendant was facing at the moment since some misdemeanors and felonies can't be sealed according to Texas regulations. Thus, people can always ask a criminal law specialist to tell them if they can seal their offenses in the state.
The same happens with expungement processes since some offenses can be sealed but not expunged. Anyone having doubts about what charges they can seal or expunge can always call the Sparks Law Firm or go to its law offices to ask its lawyers directly.
Here are some of the crimes no one can ever seal nor expunge in Texas:
Aggravated kidnapping
Sex offenses
Domestic violence
Stalking
Causing any damage to an elderly person, disabled person, or child
Human trafficking
When Do I Need Criminal Defense Attorneys?
The main reason people hire defense attorneys or go to law offices is that they need legal representation in a criminal trial. Those trials can address both misdemeanors and felonies, so people don't have to worry about going to a different law firm to hire lawyers for the charges they are facing.
People can also call Arlington criminal lawyers to ask them any questions about the law or what's legal or not in the state. Doing that is highly beneficial since it can prevent the person from committing a crime in the first place, which keeps them from going through the whole trial and legal process that comes with it.
Some lawyers focus on specific cases, and that makes them know the laws regarding those offenses more than average attorneys. Considering that, people accused of committing firearm crimes should go for a lawyer that is experienced in addressing firearm crime cases.
Several attorneys in the Sparks Law Firm can help their clients with that, and they are validated by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Therefore, they don't need to worry about struggling to find a decent lawyer for their case.
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Conclusion - Where to Find an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney in Arlington, TX
Although people may have guessed it by reading this article, the Sparks Law Firm is one of the best options in Arlington, TX, for people accused of firearm offenses, and no one should hesitate to call this law firm if they ever need a criminal lawyer.
The only thing people need to do is go to the law firm's website to schedule a free consultation for their case.
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