Weapons charges are not minor offenses.
Depending on the allegations, a conviction can mean:
Mayersohn Law Group represents clients facing a wide range of state and federal weapons allegations throughout Florida, including:
Weapons cases move quickly, particularly when mandatory minimum sentencing enhancements or federal involvement are on the table.
Early decisions shape everything that follows:
Weapons charges can feel insurmountable when mandatory minimum sentences are on the table, but outcomes depend on the evidence, investigative procedures, witness credibility, and legal defenses available.
Depending on the circumstances, potential results may include:
Early investigation and motion practice often determine what outcomes are available before a trial ever begins.
Our firm approaches these cases strategically from the first contact.
Under Florida Statute 775.087, mandatory minimums apply when a firearm is involved in certain felonies: 10 years for possessing a firearm, 20 years for discharging it, and 25 years to life if someone is shot. The judge has no discretion to go below these minimums, making it critical to challenge the underlying charge or the enhancement itself as early as possible.
Yes. If the firearm was discovered through an illegal stop, unlawful search, or improper warrant, your attorney can file a motion to suppress the evidence. Without the weapon, prosecutors frequently cannot sustain the charge. Suppression motions are among the most effective tools in weapons charge defense and must be pursued before trial.
No. Florida Statute 790.23 makes it a second-degree felony for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. Federal law under 18 U.S.C. 922(g) imposes its own independent prohibition. Firearm rights can only be restored through the civil rights clemency process, they are not automatically restored after a sentence is completed.
Florida Statute 776.032 grants immunity from prosecution, not merely a defense at trial, to individuals who used force lawfully in self-defense. A Stand Your Ground motion is heard by a judge before the case goes to a jury. If the court grants immunity, the charges are dismissed entirely.
Yes. A misdemeanor domestic violence conviction under both Florida law and federal law (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9)) prohibits firearm possession for life. This applies even to misdemeanor battery convictions. The prohibition is permanent unless the conviction is overturned or vacated.
Florida Statute 790.10 makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to display a firearm in the presence of another person in a careless, threatening, or rude manner. This charge frequently arises from confrontations or altercations where a weapon was displayed but not discharged. Even as a misdemeanor, a conviction can carry lasting consequences for firearm rights and future charges.
Do not make statements and do not consent to a search without speaking to an attorney first. Anything you say during a law enforcement encounter can be used to build a case against you. Invoking your right to remain silent and your right to counsel is always the appropriate response to police questioning about a firearm allegation.
In some circumstances, yes. Florida’s clemency process allows certain individuals to petition for restoration of civil rights, which may include firearm rights depending on the offense and the time elapsed since the conviction. Federal firearm rights restoration is a separate and more limited process. Whether restoration is available in your situation requires a careful review of the specific conviction and applicable law.
