Arlington Gun Laws

Gun laws are enforced strictly in the city of Arlington. If police officers stop an individual and are led to believe that a gun may be present or partially concealed, he or she will be charged and prosecuted vigorously. In some instances, even if the concealment of a firearm was done by accident, police officers and prosecutors are not quick to give the benefit of a doubt to people in these circumstances.

With this attitude in mind, a knowledgeable gun lawyer who is familiar with Virginia gun laws will be necessary in the process of defending a case of this magnitude. Someone who is facing gun charges should, therefore, seek legal counsel immediately in an attempt to mitigate the harsh penalties that accompany violating a gun law.

Familiarity With Gun Laws

While there have not been any recent changes to gun laws in the state of Virginia, it is crucial that residents stay up to date with all laws, not just those concerning firearms. The internet is an excellent source of information, and it can help an individual avoid attaining any unwanted charges. It is important however that anyone who uses the internet to find their information is sure that the information that they have found is legitimate.

The Virginia State Police have an entire page on their website dedicated to gun laws, and it is quite helpful when seeking information regarding commonly asked questions. Ultimately, a website generated by the Virginia State Police, Arlington Police, or any other state/local governmental agency will always be a trustworthy source of information.

Short of a Google search, however, if an individual still has questions and is not sure whether a specific thing that he or she is trying to do is legal, it is recommended that they call a lawyer. Most lawyers who have the experience necessary to provide their insight will spend five or 10 minutes on the phone with someone to help answer their questions.

Firearms Laws For Out of State Residents

While there are many jurisdictions in the United States that have gun registration laws, Virginia does not. An individual is not required to do anything, in particular, to declare guns once they move into Virginia. However, if and when someone decides to seek a concealed weapons permit, that person will need to check the current status of the law if he or she had one in his or her previous state.

Currently, an out of state concealed weapons permit is considered valid in Virginia, but there are many in the state legislature and other parts of the government that believe this should not be the case. They think that if a person is going to carry a concealed weapon in Virginia, the person should have a Virginia concealed weapons permit. Ultimately, it is very important that individuals who are new to the area, as well as long-time residents pay close attention to the current status and laws within the state of Virginia.

Prevalence of Guns in Arlington

When considering the prevalence of guns and gun crimes in the state of Virginia, it is important that residents know what follows committing a criminal act with a firearm. If and when a person commits a felony in Arlington and a firearm is used in the commission of that felony, they can and will attain a charge without ever having to fire their weapon. That is a separate and distinct crime.

If a person is convicted of both the felony and the use of a firearm in the commission of that felony, the person is going to get extra time stacked on top of his or her sentence for having a gun or using a gun during the commission of that felony.