It’s no surprise that many law-abiding Texas gun owners have found themselves on the wrong side of the law. Having an experienced Texas lawyer defend your rights is a smart move to protect your rights and avoid any potentially devastating consequences.

if you want to protect your 2nd Amendment rights, be sure to understand the latest changes to Texas gun laws. If you or a loved one are facing weapons charges, read on to learn what you should and shouldn’t do.

Be Careful What You Say

Loose lips sink ships. They can also sink your defense in court. Too often, people weaken their defense by saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. This often happens because people misunderstand the difference between colloquial and legal rules.

In an everyday conversation, it might seem perfectly justifiable to say something to a friend, family member, or acquaintance. However, from a legal perspective, it often surprises people what kind of statements can seem innocent but end up undermining your legal case.

Few people know what can and can’t be said when they’re facing charges. Don’t gamble with your freedom. Keep your mouth shut and speak with a lawyer before you do anything potentially incriminating.

When You Need a Lawyer

Your lawyer can help you understand what you should avoid doing or saying before your trial date. This way, you can avoid making a difficult problem even worse by accident.

However, another great thing a lawyer can do for you is to help you understand the likely outcome of your case. Some people feel confident that they will win their case, either because they are innocent or because they feel that there is no significant evidence proving their guilt.

However, most people do not have much experience assessing which situations are likely to lead to acquittal in a criminal trial. As a result, it is easy for people to make mistakes while assessing their own situation. It is much more effective to ask an experienced lawyer for their assessment of your legal circumstances.

Of course, they will not be able to tell you for sure if you will win your case. But they can give you a much better idea of what you can expect and what kind of case outcome you should be aiming for.

This also comes in handy because whether you are found guilty or innocent is not the only important question. Even if you are found guilty in a trial, there is the question of your sentencing.

Some people feel that it does not matter how they handle their legal situation if they already expect to be found guilty. They might even think there is no point in hiring a lawyer at all if they are going to lose their case, anyway. However, your lawyer can also help you diminish your sentence.

Real Lawyers vs. “Legal Service Associations”

In recent years, gun owners have been bombarded by groups claiming to protect gun owners in their time of need. These “memberships” often come with sign up fees or ongoing membership dues. They may even send you a little “member card” to keep in your wallet.

While these services sound tempting, they may not provide the legal protections or defense needed when facing charges. Oftentimes, these services are simply private companies offering nothing more than a referral to a national legal network. The experience, skill, expertise, and location of the lawyer they refer may be completely random- or unknown!

Every gun owner has the right to legal representation. Don’t trust your freedom to a referral service- get an experienced local lawyer who will personally represent you in your case. This is your best shot at protecting your rights.

Speak With An Experienced Lawyer as Soon as Possible

When it comes to weapons charges, time is not on your side. The consequences of an arrest or weapons charges can quickly impact your life. Whether you are guilty or innocent, and whether you expect to win or lose your case, it’s best to get a weapons defense attorney working on your behalf as soon as possible.

First, they can provide guidance to insure you don’t weaken your case by accident. However, they will then need to spend a lot of time preparing a strong defense for you.

For example, they might need to find witnesses and interview them so that they can testify on your behalf. They might be able to find expert witnesses that can comment on the technical details of your case.

They can also study all the documentation relevant to your case and begin preparing the most convincing defense of yourself possible in court. They can also contact the court and prosecutors for any special lenience for your situation or circumstance.

All of this takes time. The longer you wait before speaking with a lawyer, the less time your attorney will have to prepare a proper defense for you.

Find a Lawyer With Weapons Charge Experience

It’s always best to go with a specialist when you want something done right. The law is no different. While many lawyers work in multiple areas of the law, the most skilled criminal defense attorneys specialize in criminal law. They will also have years of experience to bring to the table. When it comes to criminal defense, there is no substitute for experience.

Make sure that you choose a criminal defense attorney who has devoted a significant portion of their career to defending clients in situations similar to your own.

Use Caution When Reading Reviews

Reviews are everywhere these days. These days, you can’t order a pizza without a request for a review. Unfortunately, the abundance of reviews also allows fake reviews to flourish. In the legal industry, fake reviews are a real problem. Larger firms in particular often use outsource online companies to solicit and create reviews. While many are legit, there can be fake reviews sprinkled among the real ones.

While fake reviews are problematic, there are a few simple steps you can take to insure you’re getting the truth.

First, use common sense. Any firm with a perfect rating, a 5.0 or 10 stars, is highly suspicious. How many things in life are absolutely perfect? Law firms aren’t perfect either. If you see a lawyer or firm with a perfect, or nearly perfect, rating, there’s a reasonable chance they have fake reviews in the mix. The most reputable and skilled lawyers will usually have some negative feedback. This proves they are transparent and not hiding the occasional unhappy customer. A few negative reviews among mostly positive reviews can be a good thing for you as a potential client.

Next, ask the lawyer specifically about their reviews. Have them provide details about a case or client mentioned in their reviews. (without giving away any attorney-client privilege). If they struggle to remember or have difficulty providing further specifics, it’s possible they are posting fake reviews. An honest, reputable lawyer will be very engaged in their practice and can easily provide details about cases.

Keep in mind more reviews does NOT translate to good lawyering. Reviews can be faked or altered with ease. It’s common practice to load up on LOTS of reviews to get a better ranking in search engines. But a firm with 500 reviews may be no better at handling your case than a firm with a handful reviews. The number of reviews has no bearing on the firms ability to represent you or the outcome of your case.

Reviews are just one tool to help evaluate a potential lawyer for your weapons case and should be used with caution.

Defending a Weapons Charge in Texas

There are few times in life when the stakes are as high as when you are facing a weapons charge. The way that you handle your legal situation will affect your life in huge ways for many years to come. There may be nothing else you can do to affect the outcome of your charge as much as looking for the best criminal defense lawyer to assist you.

To learn more about how to handle your legal situation when you are facing a weapons charge, reach out and get in touch with our top rated criminal defense attorneys today.

On September 1, 2021, the Texas Firearm Carry Act of 2021 went into effect. The Act passed the Texas state legislature and was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in late May 2021.

Gun rights activists laud the new rules as a welcome reform and believe Texas is now the first “pro-gun” state. Gun control activists aren’t so sure. They believe the laws could compromise the safety of Texas citizens and law enforcement.

Are you a gun owner or concerned citizen unsure of the new Texas firearms rules?

Here’s a brief overview of the new Texas gun laws and how they may affect you.

Texas Firearm Carry Act: A Short History

Conservative activists and lobby groups like the NRA pushed permitless carry laws in various state legislatures for years. Though they’ve had little success in the past, the activists and lobbies continued their push and came up with a new way to market these lax gun laws to the public.

They now refer to these laws as “Constitutional Carry Laws.”

Constitutional Carry is a brilliant marketing campaign that recalls the American ideals of our inalienable rights granted by “our creator.” These laws, so advocates say, promote an originalist interpretation of the Second Amendment to our Constitution.

Controversial Public Support

Despite the new branding, the support of permit-free carry has remained mixed. Polling conducted by the University of Texas and the Texas Tribune showed that an overwhelming majority, 59%, of Texas citizens do not support permit-free firearm carry.

Polling of Texas Republicans revealed that 56% support firearms carry without licenses, while a whopping 85% of Democrats oppose.

Despite the new law’s lack of popularity, it passed the Texas House of Representatives in June of 2021 with an 82-62 vote.

Basics of the New Texas Gun Laws

With the Texas Firearm Carry Act now law, the Lone-Star state joins several other states that already passed permitless conceal and carry laws. Utah, Wyoming, Iowa, Tennessee, and Montana all removed restrictions on firearms possession. Many pundits claim these conservative states did so in response to President Joe Biden’s vow to enact federal gun restrictions.

Still, there are ways that gun rights activists and owners could find themselves on the wrong side of the law. What does the new law mean for you? Let’s take a look at some of the changes in Texas gun laws and how a criminal defense attorney could be the best way to protect your rights.

No Permit Needed

Before the new law, gun owners in Texas had to obtain a license to carry a concealed firearm. To receive this permit, Texans submitted to fingerprinting, safety training, and shooting proficiency exams.

As of September 1, 2021, Texas citizens are no longer required to complete this permit process. If you are 21 or older, you can carry a weapon legally without a permit.

Restrictions Still Exist

Though the Texas Firearm Carry Act liberates gun owners from permitting and training, there are still restrictions on who can own a gun.

Any Texan with felony convictions or a domestic violence charge may not carry a gun. This restriction means that, despite social media claims, Texas citizens must still submit to background checks when purchasing a firearm.

These new laws pertain not to the rules surrounding the sale of firearms but where and how any Texan may carry them upon purchase.

Other Changes

The Texas Firearm Carry Act was the highest-profile change to Texas gun laws, but Governor Abbott also signed many other changes into law during the last legislative session. All of the following changes in gun laws also took effect on September 1, 2021. Like “permitless carry,” these new laws loosen some government restrictions on firearms.

Second Amendment Sanctuary Act

Gun control measures from the Federal Government are a heavily debated issue. New restrictions can get passed depending on which political party controls the legislative and executive branches.

House Bill 2622 designates Texas as a “Second Amendment Sanctuary State.” This law means that Texans receive protection from any possible federal firearms regulations.

Senate Bill 19- Pro-gun Government Contractors

The political winds change, though not as fast as some people may think. With Senate Bill 19, future Texas legislatures and executives can no longer offer government contracts to companies discriminating against firearms and ammunition businesses.

The Texas state government has the power to only contract with companies that maintain a “pro-gun” stance.

Senate Bill 550- Types of Holsters

Before this bill, Texas law regulated the type of holster a citizen could use to carry their gun. If you wanted a pistol, you had to use a shoulder or belt holster that met these state regulations.

Senate Bill 550 rescinds these regulations and lets Texans choose whatever holster they like.

Senate Bill 20- Hotel Restrictions Lifted

Hotels are no longer allowed to restrict firearms. Senate Bill 20 allows any legal Texas citizen to store firearms inside their hotel room.

Hotel guests now face zero restrictions on firearms storage.

House Bill 957- Silencers

It is no longer a crime for a Texas citizen to own a gun silencer. It is also no longer a crime to manufacture or sell gun silencers in the state of Texas.

The repeal of these criminal offenses goes further. Silencers made and owned in Texas now receive protection from any federal regulation.

House Bill 1500- Disaster Gun Sales

As of September 1, 2021, all Texas government entities can no longer prohibit the sale of guns and ammunition during a disaster or emergency.

This law designates gun shops as “essential businesses.” They are not subject to closure during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. The interpretation of this law can now classify gun shop employees as “essential workers.”

The New Rules for Texas Firearms

Navigating the new laws about Texas firearms is a challenge. While lawmakers and Governor Abbott proclaim these law changes as a bell-ringing celebration of freedom for Texas citizens, the new rules continue to receive pushback. Many law enforcement agencies are concerned these laws may put officers in danger.

Responsible gun ownership is the best way to protect your rights. Knowing the laws around gun ownership and possession can keep you from getting into trouble. If you or a loved one is facing legal action related to firearms, . Andrea M. Kolski is here to fight for you. She will use her 21 years of experience to protect your rights and advocate for your gun ownership rights.

Have you been accused of a firearms violation? Contact our office today for a free case review.