Jacksonville Criminal Attorney Blog

With the increasing rate of crimes involving guns in Florida's cities, the Orlando Sentinel gathered records from Florida's biggest police agencies. Here are some of their findings:

- Over 60,000 guns were confiscated from Florida streets in the last 5 years.

- All of these firearms were involved in criminal charges or left at crime scenes.

- Orlando seized 1,160 firearms last year.

- The 9 mm pistol was the most popular, with 10,297 seized in the last 4 years.

- The number of 9 mm pistols confiscated has doubled in Jacksonville, Tampa, and Orlando in recent years.

If you have any questions about gun charges in Jacksonville, Clay County, or Nassau County, call our Jacksonville Gun Charges Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News , Gun Crimes

Bookmark:

Many people in Jacksonville and all over Florida celebrate holidays, birthdays, or special occasions by firing their guns in the air.

The state of Florida does not allow the discharging of guns in public. If you fire your gun in any public place, you could be arrested and charged with a first degree misdemeanor. The maximum jail time is 1 year in jail. This law does not apply if you are lawfully defending yourself.

If you fire your gun while in a car and any person is within 1,000 feet, you could be charged with a second degree felony punishable for up to 15 years in prison.

If you have any questions about gun or weapon charges in Jacksonville, call our Jacksonville Gun Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Gun Crimes

Bookmark:

On September 1, 2008, police found a stun gun and knife in two of Lake Shore Middle School's student's book bags. The students, both girls, were suspended for 10 days. That is the standard punishment for carrying a weapon to school in Jacksonville.

In Florida, if the girls were adults, they could be charged with carrying a concealed weapon. This crime is a first degree misdemeanor, which means it is punishable for up to one year in jail. The term "weapon" includes:

1. Knives
2. Brass Knuckles
3. Tear Gas Guns
4. Billies
5. Electric Weapon or Device

If the students were carrying a concealed firearm, this is a third degree felony punishable for up to 5 years in prison.

If you have any questions about weapon or gun criminal charges, call our Jacksonville Gun Lawyers at (904) 634-0900.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Criminal Topics in the News , Gun Crimes

Bookmark:

A Jacksonville Paxon Middle School student brought a gun to school on August 26th, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. The school received an anonymous tip about the child possessing the gun at school. The gun was taken away from the child and he was subdued with a taser by officers.

According to National School Safety and Security Services, police officers utilizing tasers is a good alternative to using deadly force on juveniles.

Duval County (Jacksonville) middle and high schools do not have metal detectors, but the children are subject to random checks of their cars and book bags.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Gun Crimes , Juvenile

Bookmark:

More residents in Duval County are wanting to carry guns legally. In Duval, 22,534 people have active concealed weapon permits. The number of people applying for permits has jumped over the past 4 years according to the Florida State Division of Licensing:

2004 - 1385
2005 - 1720
2006 - 2777
2007 - 3505
2008 - 4230

Under Florida law, if you carry a concealed firearm without a license and are arrested, the maximum punishment is 5 years in prison because the charge is a third degree felony.

If you have any questions about gun charges, contact our experienced Jacksonville Criminal Defense Lawyers at (904) 634-0900.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Gun Crimes

Bookmark:

A Florida man was fired from Disney because he wouldn't let the company search his car. He disagrees with Disney's policy that it is exempt from the new Florida law that allows employees with a concealed weapons permit to have their guns int heir locked cars. This firing will almost certainly end up in the Florida court system and will test the limits of the new gun law.

Over the past three years, the Florida Senate wrestled with the competing interests of the Second Amendment right to bear arms and private property rights.

One issue with the new law is that the employer cannot find out which of their employees have a concealed weapons permit because that information is exempt from public records searches. Under the law, employers cannot even ask their employee about it. Business owners also object to the law because it restricts their ability to set rules for their employment on their own property.

The gun lobby doesn't want private business owners telling their employees and customers what constitutional rights they can or cannot have on their property.

If you have any questions about criminal gun charges, please call our Jacksonville Criminal Defense Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Gun Crimes

Bookmark:

The crime rate in Jacksonville is rising every day and as it does, the number of people carrying guns for protection increases. What many people don't know is the State of Florida has very strict laws on how and when you can carry a firearm. If you do not have a Concealed Weapons Permit, you are not allowed to carry your gun out of view of the public. Many people carry their weapon in their car. If you do not have a Concealed Weapons Permit, the safest place to keep your gun is in the glove compartment, in a holster, unloaded.

If you want to apply for a Concealed Weapons Permit in Florida, you can apply with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Licensing. You have to fill out a lengthy application, take a class, get fingerprinted, and pay a fee. Once you are licensed, you will be able to carry your loaded gun on your person or in your car as long as it is hidden from view.

If you have any questions, please contact our Jacksonville Weapons Attorneys at (904) 634-0900.

Posted by Mussallem & Forbess | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Gun Crimes

Bookmark: