Facing weapons charges? We can help you safeguard your freedom, your record, and your future. Pennsylvania firearms laws carry severe penalties, including prison time, steep fines, and permanent loss of gun rights. At Chieppor & Egner, we defend people in Lancaster, Manheim, Lititz, Ephrata, and across Lancaster County with focused strategy, careful evidence review, and strategic courtroom advocacy.
As former prosecutors, our defense attorneys in Lancaster can effectively review the charges, how Pennsylvania law applies to your case, challenge unlawful police conduct, and build a defense designed to reduce or dismiss the case whenever possible. We’ll ensure that you fully understand both the immediate penalties and the long-term impact of the charges against you so you can make informed decisions about your defense.
Carrying a concealed firearm or having a gun in a vehicle without a valid License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) is one of the most common weapons charges in Lancaster County. This offense is generally graded as a third-degree felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison and fines not exceeding $15,000.
In limited situations, the law requires misdemeanor grading when a person was otherwise eligible for a license and committed no other crime. This distinction is important because it can mean the difference between a felony conviction and a misdemeanor conviction.
Our Lancaster weapons charges lawyers can examine whether a license was legally required, whether an exception applied, and whether police followed proper procedures during the stop and search. Details, such as where the firearm was located, how it was transported, and why the stop occurred, can determine whether the charge holds up in court.
Another serious weapons charge involves possession of a firearm by a person legally prohibited from owning one. These are individuals with certain prior convictions, mental health commitments, and active Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders. These cases are usually charged as felonies and can carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison. A conviction can likewise trigger a lifetime loss of firearm rights under both Pennsylvania and federal law.
Our Lancaster weapons charges lawyers at Chieppor & Egner can review the basis of the alleged disqualification, challenge improper records, and analyze whether the prosecution can prove prohibited status beyond a reasonable doubt.
Pennsylvania likewise criminalizes possession of firearms with altered or removed serial numbers and certain offensive weapons. Offensive weapons are grenades, bombs, incendiary devices, sawed-off rifles and shotguns, machine guns (with some exceptions), and some disguised or specially made weapons.
These charges are highly technical and depend on statutory definitions, weapon classification, and forensic evidence. Our weapons charges attorneys in Lancaster can work with firearms experts when needed, challenge improper classifications of weapons, and examine whether the Commonwealth can prove that an object meets the legal definition of an offensive weapon.
Weapons charges frequently appear alongside other allegations such as drug offenses, violent crimes, or violations involving protected locations. One example is the prohibition on possessing weapons on school property, in school buildings, or at school events.
In these cases, prosecutors can file multiple firearm-related charges or higher-grade offenses, increasing overall sentencing exposure. We can review the weapon’s location, coordinate the defense strategy across all charges (if applicable), challenge improper joinder, and work to limit cumulative sentencing risk.
Learn how our Lancaster weapons charges lawyers can help by calling Chieppor & Egner at 717-393-1400 or emailing us to book your free consultation.
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