Memphis Attorney Defends People Accused of Gun and Weapon Crimes
Firm strives to protect Tennessee clients’ fundamental rights
The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution allows people the right to keep and bear arms. But if you use a gun to commit a crime or are a convicted felon caught with a gun, you could go to prison and face other stiff penalties. At Jack P. Sherman, Attorney at Law in Memphis, I have spent 20 years defending Tennessee residents accused of various offenses, including gun and weapon crimes. When you need help to fight these charges, you can trust me to stand up for you against police and prosecutors. My law firm represents residents of Shelby County and other area locations.
Who is not allowed to own a gun?
In Tennessee, you cannot own or possess any kind of firearm if you were convicted of a violent felony offense or of attempting to commit a violent crime such as homicide, aggravated robbery, carjacking or kidnapping. All felony convictions, even nonviolent drug crimes, disqualify someone from owning a handgun. A recently enacted law bans someone from purchasing a firearm if they have one DUI/DWI conviction in the past five years or two convictions in the previous 10 years.
You also cannot possess a gun if you were convicted of any crime in which you used a deadly weapon. Deadly weapons in Tennessee are defined as firearms, large knives, brass knuckles or even baseball bats or other potentially dangerous items, depending upon how they were used. Convicted domestic violence offenders also cannot possess guns, nor can individuals who are restricted by orders of protection involving alleged domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking. If you are a felon or another individual who was arrested in connection with an illegal gun charge, I will vigorously defend you against the charges.
Types of gun charges
My firm provides aggressive defense representation in all types of matters involving weapons allegations such as:
- Unlawful possession of a firearm
- Carrying a weapon in a prohibited area, such as a school
- Possession of an illegal weapon
- Unauthorized sale of firearms or other weapons
- Possession of a handgun while inebriated
Whatever the specific allegation against you entails, you can count on my firm for honest, effective counsel every step of the way.
Enhanced penalties for weapons use
If you are accused of using a gun or other weapon in commission of a crime, your sentence if you are convicted will most likely be substantially enhanced. As just one example, if you allegedly use a gun while committing assault, you will be charged with aggravated assault. Assault carries a penalty of up to a year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine. Aggravated assault, on the other hand, carries up to a 15-year prison term and up to a $10,000 fine. When you have been accused of using a gun to commit a crime, my criminal defense law firm will work diligently toward getting you the best outcome possible based upon the circumstances of your case.
Possible defenses to charges involving firearms
Sometimes, a police officer will make an error involving who is in possession of a gun. If you are the victim of a mistaken identification and are facing criminal charges due to a prior felony, I will gather as much information as possible to refute the allegation against you. There might also be cases where police officers seize guns as a result of an illegal search. When no warrant exists, my firm can assess the situation and determine if there is a chance that you can have the key evidence excluded.
Get a free consultation if you’ve been charged with a weapons crime
Jack P. Sherman, Attorney at Law in Memphis advocates on behalf of individuals accused of criminal misconduct involving firearms or other weapons. Please call my firm at 901-233-3474 or contact me online to make an appointment for a free initial consultation.
