McKinney, TX Airport Weapon Charges Attorneys
Lawyers Helping Clients in McKinney, Texas Address Charges of Carrying Guns or Other Weapons in Airports
Every day, thousands of people travel through Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Love Field, and other airports in North Texas. Security is a serious concern at airports, and law enforcement officers may detain or arrest people who violate laws meant to protect public safety. These cases may involve claims that people brought guns or other weapons to airports. People who are facing these types of charges will need to understand the penalties that may apply and the steps they can take to defend themselves.
The attorneys at Texas Defense Firm work with clients in McKinney who are facing airport weapons charges. We can help them understand the charges they are facing and whether they may be prosecuted in state or federal courts. We can advocate on behalf of our clients, helping them take steps to respond to accusations of weapons violations and resolve criminal cases successfully.
Situations That Can Lead to Airport Weapons Charges
When going to the airport, a person may forget that they had an object that could be considered a weapon in their bag or purse. Multiple types of weapons may be found when a person passes through a security screening checkpoint, including firearms, knives, clubs, brass knuckles, or other objects that could allegedly be used to cause harm to others.
Security screenings at airports are handled by people working for the Transportation Security Administration, which is part of the federal government. Other federal law enforcement officials may also monitor airports, looking for signs of criminal offenses. A person who is detained by the TSA for weapon possession could potentially face federal weapons charges, or their case may be handled by local law enforcement officers, leading to state-level criminal charges.
How Texas Law Addresses Airport Weapons Charges
In Texas, intentionally or recklessly possessing a weapon in the secured area of an airport is a criminal offense. A person who attempts to bring a gun, knife, or other weapon through security may be arrested and charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon.
There are some situations where people may be able to avoid criminal charges related to firearms if they follow the correct procedures. If a person has a license to carry a handgun, and after being stopped, they immediately leave the screening area, this can serve as a defense against weapons charges. A person is allowed to check baggage containing a firearm while following the proper state and federal laws.
Penalties for Airport Weapons Charges
When a person is accused of carrying a firearm or another type of weapon into the secured area of an airport, they may be charged with a third-degree felony. The penalties they may face if they are convicted of this offense include a prison sentence lasting from two to 10 years. In some cases, it may be possible to have charges reduced to a Class A misdemeanor offense of unlawful carrying of a weapon.
Because major airports like DFW are regulated by the federal government, accusations related to airport weapons charges could lead to federal charges. A person who is accused of carrying a concealed weapon aboard an airplane or attempting to place a loaded firearm on a plane could be sentenced to up to 10 years in federal prison. If a person is accused of a weapons offense that showed a reckless disregard for safety or human life, the maximum sentence may increase to 20 years. Any actions that allegedly led to someone's death may result in a sentence of life in prison.
Defense Strategies in Airport Weapons Cases
Our lawyers can help clients determine what options for defense may be available when they have been accused of attempting to bring weapons into airports. The location of an alleged offense may play a role in a case, since conduct that took place in a ticketing or baggage claim area of an airport rather than beyond a security checkpoint may not qualify as airport weapons charges.
In cases where people who have licenses to carry firearms were stopped at security screening checkpoints, we can take steps to show that a client complied with an officer's instructions and took the right steps to check a firearm as baggage. We may challenge whether a person intentionally carried a weapon in a prohibited location and take steps to show that they were unaware of the presence of a weapon. We can also provide guidance on whether a case may be handled at the state or federal level and work with clients to minimize the potential penalties they may face.
Contact Our McKinney Airport Weapons Charges Lawyers
At Texas Defense Firm, our team can act quickly to protect people who have been accused of possessing weapons at airports. We know how frightening it can be to be detained by TSA officers or other federal officials, questioned, searched, and accused of offenses related to terrorism. We can look at factors such as where an offense allegedly occurred, whether an object may be considered a weapon, and what procedures a person followed, taking steps to defend against serious weapons charges.
Because of the penalties that people may face when they are accused of possessing firearms or other weapons at airports, our lawyers can provide clients with a strong defense, working to avoid criminal convictions and limit the ways their lives may be affected. Contact our McKinney, TX airport weapon possession attorneys at 972-369-0577 to schedule a free consultation and get legal help with these matters.
