Austin Gun Possession Lawyer

There have been many recent changes to Texas gun laws. On January 1, 2016, open carry became the law of the land, allowing law-abiding citizens to register and carry a handgun conspicuously. On August 1, 2016, campus carry went into effect throughout Texas, allowing students, faculty, and staff to carry handguns openly on campus-although this law has some very confusing guidelines with many restrictions.

The complexities of these changes can cause you undue legal problems at the very least. Questions like which bus you are permitted to ride while carrying and at what events you are allowed to bear arms can become extremely trying to answer. With the help of an Austin gun possession lawyer from Hines & Holub you can avoid legal problems-or receive help getting out of them-as you express your Second Amendment rights.

Gun Possession and Open Carry H.B. No. 910

The new open carry law essentially just replaced "concealed" with "open" in the existing concealed carry laws. All you need to do to legally open carry is get a license.

There are, of course, several restrictions that can be difficult to successfully maneuver and even worse to accidentally violate. For example, government buildings, public parks, and many public events have restrictions on carrying guns in any manner. If you unwittingly enter one of these areas while carrying a firearm, you could receive a gun possession charge.

Gun Possession and Campus Carry S.B. 11

At first, campus carry may seem as straightforward as open carry, but individual campuses themselves have many confusing legislative restrictions. You need an Austin gun possession lawyer before even stepping on campus if you are planning on carrying a handgun.

In just one example, open carry is not allowed anywhere on Texas A&M's campuses. Only concealed carry is allowed at the moment and only in certain places at certain times. We can help you make sense of these nuances.

Gun Possession on Government Property

Laws have also been adjusted to better address the concerns of responsible gun owners regarding entry into government buildings. You are now allowed to enter a government building, but not an office or room where a government meeting is being held, as well as some other restrictions. Receiving incorrect directions is all it could take to land you in legal trouble in these circumstances.

Penalties for Gun Possession Violations

These laws are unnecessarily complex at times, and it can be easy to accidentally run afoul of the law. If you are convicted of any of these gun possession violations, you could be charged with anything from a class A misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.

• • Class A misdemeanors can carry up to one year in jail and up to $4,000 in fines.

• • If you are charged with a third-degree felony, you could receive two to ten years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.

• • You may lose your right to possess and bear firearms.

• • It is even possible to lose property that housed any guns, such as your home and vehicle.

• • If you are charged with a criminal act while in possession of a firearm, the charge could be considered aggravated, resulting in much more extreme penalties.