Possession of a Firearm as a Felon Attorney in Dallas

There are significant consequences for possessing or carrying a firearm without a proper license or permission. If you were previously convicted of a felony and have been accused of possessing or carrying a firearm, you need to discuss your rights with a lawyer to prevent harsh penalties or imprisonment.

Dallas gun possession as a felon lawyer Mark T. Lassiter has over a decade of experience dealing with a variety of gun crime cases, including helping those charged with illegally carrying or possessing a firearm. Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter is committed to helping people in the DFW area and has served people from Dallas to Mansfield to Waxahachie. The combination of our dedication to Dallas and the surrounding areas and Mark T. Lassiter’s experience as a prosecutor with the Dallas County District Attorney’s office makes the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter uniquely suited to help you fight back against the charges you face. Call us at (214) 845-7007 to get started on your defense today.

Table Of Contents

Do I Need a Gun Crime Lawyer?

If you were convicted of a felony in the past, you are not allowed to knowingly possess a firearm. There are harsh penalties associated with breaking this law, including imprisonment of two years or more. If you are charged with the possession of a firearm as a felon, you will need a complex understanding of the state’s firearm laws and the state’s definition of a firearm to refute your case.

The state of Texas’s firearm laws can be tricky without previous legal experience. You are unlikely to receive the minimum sentence without legal help. Therefore, you need an attorney like that at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter to ensure that you not only know your rights but that you have the means to prevent further punishment.

Why Choose the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter to Handle My Case?

Choosing the right lawyer is pivotal to the success of your case. Mark T. Lassiter of the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter has years of experience handling a variety of cases, including weapon offenses. His dedication has resulted in the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter being honored as Texas SuperLawyers and being named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Additionally, Lassiter is part of both the Dallas Bar Association and the American Association for Justice. There are few others as qualified and as dedicated to serving you as the lawyer at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter.

Types of Cases We Handle

A firearm is defined by the state of Texas as any item that may be used as a weapon. This means that the definition of firearm possession in Texas is more than just physically handling a gun.

Law enforcement can and has often taken advantage of this loose definition of possession in past cases. For example, if you knowingly control or operate a gun (or have the ability to terminate your possession or handling of a gun or firearm and choose not to), you are considered in possession of the firearm and could be punished in a court of law. There are similar restrictions for activities such as hunting; you cannot hunt in the state of Texas if it involves the use of a firearm. You are also not permitted to be in a vehicle with someone who can legally hold a gun for hunting purposes if you are a convicted felon.

There are some circumstances where holding a firearm is acceptable regardless of your status as a felon. According to Texas Penal Code 46.04 (a) (2), you may own and possess a firearm in Texas if you wait a minimum of five years and restrict its use to the area in which you live. The only way to possess a firearm outside of your home as a felon, however, is to receive express permission and pardon from the governor, which is rarely granted.

There are significant consequences for a felon in possession of a firearm. A conviction of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon can have up to a 10,000 dollar fine, a third-degree felony charge, and up to ten years in prison. This penalty becomes more severe if you are found in possession of a firearm outside of Texas.

Mark T. Lassiter has experience in a variety of different weapon defense cases, from the unlawful carrying of a weapon to the illegal sale of a weapon. He knows how to ensure that your rights are not being violated and can help advocate for the best possible outcome.

The Dallas Gun Crime Lawyers

Mark T. Lassiter of the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter will work for you. The Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter has fought for individuals in Dallas and across the region since 2006. If you have been charged with the possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, don’t wait any longer to call us. Schedule a confidential consultation by calling (214) 845-7007 and let us get started on your defense right away.

TESTIMONIALS

Recommendation for Mark LassiterI am pleased to write a letter of recommendation. I highly recommend Mark Lassiter to others who are seeking such assistance. His representation allowed me to do very little in my case. It was Mark’s proven expertise and his legal knowledge that was valuable in getting my case dismissed. In short, I recommend Mark enthusiastically without reservation and I do believe he would be a valuable asset to you.

- Name Redacted

dear Markplease accept this letter on my and Susan’s behalf. there is a powerful message and testimony we would like to share with you for the first time.for over a year the weight of what happened to Reid was heavy on our souls. at first we held great anger, resentment and disgust toward Angel (the passenger). it became evident after turning 21 the Angel has a severe alcohol problem which my son nor us fully understood. The arrest also brought us great disappointment, frustration and disheartenment toward Reid.We have found that God often surprises us with his answers to our prayers. Prior to the arrest was had been in prayer that God help turn Reid away from selfishness, childishness and destructive ways. We prayed that God move to change him toward everlasting values and better choices in his life. We believe that God answered that prayer with the arrest. We blamed ourselves for bringing this calamity but understood it would take something this powerful to reach him. There is no doubt in our minds this ordeal has placed a permanent imprint on his soul.during the many delays associated with this case we were able to put forgiveness in our hearts toward Angel. Also during the many delays the full weight of the case in our and Reid’s mind triggered conversations pertaining to life decisions and direction. Time allowed us the opportunity to be rid of the noise and cloudiness of our emotions. We believe this to be a part of the master plan that God was overseeing.Only today did the full story become revealed. During this case with all the odds against us can we say without question that God was in it. How else could the series of events occurred within the judicial process that could put the opportunity in to your mind that there was a way to victory. The entire morning Susan and i were in fervent prayer even after your told us we had only a 25% chance of winning.Grace is the receipt of a blessing that is undeserved. Reid did not deserve to win today. We all are eternally marked by the message of grace given to us and you were the instrument that brought the gift to our house. Thank you from bottom of our souls and may God bless and keep you all of your days.

- Name Redacted

Dear Mr. Lassiter,Today you saved my son’s life. When he received a DWI, it broke my heart because I knew it would be on his record forever. It would limit his options in life. He would be paying for his stupid mistake for the rest of his life. At 21 years of age he was overwhelmed with the depth of the problem he created for himself.I decided to find him the best lawyer in Dallas, and I did. I researched lawyers for two days, and then I found you. I knew from the moment I read about you that you were the one we needed. When I met you, I knew instantly that I had complete confidence in you. Even if the result had ended with my son being guilty, I would have had peace knowing that he had had THE BEST lawyer.Listening to you “own” the courtroom today was amazing. You told us in the morning that we only had about 25% chance to win; however, by the middle of the afternoon the case was over before the prosecutors even finished, and we won! What an incredible lawyer you are!I will be grateful forever to you. Your work has given my son a second chance. He left the courtroom today with a whole new perspective on life…thanks to you!Very sincerely,

- Susan Ellis

unless you are already a petty criminal with countless B and C misdemeanors and a misdemeanor A pending, a DWI charge might not really matter much – for all the others counts: Fight it with all you got – get the best professional to your side you can find!Why should you? A simple google search “Texas DWI penalties” will give you an idea what you are looking at: prison, probation, fines, classes, ignition interlock, insurance rate skyrockets and a criminal record for life (yes – this can happen even for a first time DWI in Texas) Now if you read until this point you probably are charged with a DWI (or simply board) and you are shopping for a lawyer – so some basic guidance:a) Same as in real life: You want to be surrounded by people who know what they are talking about. Nobody likes people who constantly brag around, through around the usual business buzz words which doesn’t mean anything. So: Get somebody who is specialized in this field, means if 50% or more of his work is in the field of defending DWI’s that’s probably a good indicator– Mark is one of them – talk to him you will see!b) Educate yourself – thanks to a wonderful innovation by DARPA (which you are using in this moment) you can read all about it: What happened the night before, what’s a SFT, what is a legal stop, how does an Intoxilyzer 5000 work and what flaws does it have, possible plea bargain options (not so tempting ones in TX anyway) – read the stuff, it’s out there and discuss it with your attorney – if he doesn’t want or can’t answer your questions, that’s a pretty good indicator that your sitting in the wrong office, run!– Mark WILL answer your questions – and I’m convinced you cannot surprise him with a question in your case that he can’t answer or will find an answer for you!c) Your lawyer should – more or less – from the beginning be willing to take your case to Trial, all the way. What do you have to lose? If you are a BAC 0.28 candidate and you plea it down to a misdemeanor B it technically looks better on paper – but it will still follow you for life (most employers wouldn’t even consider the difference or know it – a DWI is a DWI…) If you are a BAC 0.09 candidate your chances are even better – (did you know the Intoxilyzer 5000 gives himself a +-0.02 calibration margin? What now, is a BAC 0.09 and hour after driving now under the legal limit? Guess what, the state will state “off course NOT! The magic machine proved he’s Intoxicated and guilty!” That’s why you need a lawyer on your side who is willing to take it to trial!– Mark is a trial lawyer – those people don’t want to plea out, they need the courtroom as their stage, that’s what they love to do, that’s what they are good at – so let him do it for you!d) Money / Costs – completely neglect. This is not the time for price comparison. You are not out there to shop for new hardwood floor for your living room – you are out there to get the best possible outcome in a situation which initial will hurt you if convicted pretty bad (financially), possible cost you your job, destroy your reputation and will follow you around for the rest of your natural life.– Mark will not overcharge you for his service, in my opinion you are getting a great deal. If you have the feeling you cannot afford a lawyer like Mark put it into perspective: if you hire a $500 lawyer and plead guilty maybe to a DWI misdemeanor B, you will pay much more over the years in court costs, classes, probation fees, DPS surcharges, insurance and and and… But if you hire Mark, you have one of the best at your side, you have a real chance – off course Mark isn’t a magic wizard who can make everything go away in a moment’s notice, but 5,10,20 years down the road you don’t want to think “oh boy, I wish I would have fought this thing more aggressively back then…” I was already a bit into my case when I met Mark. Mark has a can do attitude, does not try to beat around the bush and most importantly: He looks at things, tries different avenues, seeks out weaknesses in the case base on the evidence presented – if you meet him, you will have the same experience. During our meetings we discussed alternatives and other options e.g. expert witnesses, jury trial, bench trial, plea agreement (even if he didn’t like that – Mark doesn’t want to plea, he wants to win for his clients)And here is the outcome:A clear acquittal – NOT GUILTY(even better than a dismissal which technically can be reopened by the DA within the statute of limitations – if I understood that right – Not guilty means you are not guilty, case expunged – that’s the end of it!)Mark’s services helped me to get the best possible outcome you can expect when you are charged with a (DWI / DUI) crime and I hope I will never see him again….. (under such circumstances J ) –

- Daniel

I would never use or recommend anyone else for anybody else for a criminal manner.

- Cory M.

More Reviews