ANNE ARUNDEL, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARY’S & PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES.
Weapon Crime Defense in Calvert, St. Mary's & Prince George's Counties
In Maryland, a Legal Gun in the Wrong Place Can Still Mean an Arrest
Maryland has some of the strictest firearm laws in the country, and the line between lawful and criminal is easy to cross without meaning to. A gun in the glovebox, a permit that does not cover where you carried, a charge that stacks on top of another. We know these laws and we know how to fight them.
Maryland Punishes the Where and the How, Not Just the What
Many weapon charges in Maryland have nothing to do with using a gun. They come from where it was, how it was carried, who owned it, or whether it was transported the way the law requires. People who believed they were acting legally get charged every day, often after a routine traffic stop.
We look at the whole picture: whether the stop and search were lawful, whether you actually possessed the weapon, whether your permit or status covers what happened, and whether the state can prove the charge. Many of these cases turn on the Fourth Amendment and on the fine detail of Maryland's firearm statutes, which is exactly where we focus.
Talk to a Defense LawyerWhat We Look At First
- Whether the stop and search were lawful
- Whether you actually possessed the weapon
- Whether your permit or status covers it
- How the firearm was carried or transported
- Whether charges were improperly stacked
Charges We Defend
From a Permit Question to a Mandatory Minimum
Maryland firearm penalties climb fast, and some carry mandatory time. Here is what we handle.
Wear, Carry & Transport
Carrying a handgun without the right permit, or outside what your permit allows, is one of the most common charges. The rules on how to legally transport a firearm are strict, and an honest mistake can still mean an arrest.
Wear, carry & transport defense →Prohibited Possession
Maryland bars certain people from having a firearm at all, including those with prior convictions or disqualifying records. These cases are serious and can carry mandatory penalties, so the defense has to start immediately.
Prohibited possession defense →Firearm in a Crime of Violence
Using or carrying a firearm during another offense adds a separate charge with a mandatory minimum that stacks on top of the underlying case. We attack both the firearm count and the case it is attached to.
Firearm in a crime of violence defense →Traffic Stop Gun Charges
Many weapon cases start with a routine stop and a search of the car. Whether that stop and search were legal is often the whole case, and an unlawful search can get the evidence thrown out.
Traffic stop gun charge defense →Prohibited & Regulated Weapons
Beyond handguns, Maryland regulates assault style weapons, large capacity magazines, switchblades, and other items. Charges here turn on technical definitions that are often disputable.
Prohibited & regulated weapons defense →Sensitive Places & Schools
Maryland bars firearms in many locations, including schools and other sensitive places, even for permit holders. Carrying into the wrong place, sometimes unknowingly, is its own charge, and we defend it.
Sensitive places & schools defense →
Local Defense
Weapon Crime Defense in Your County
Local courts and prosecutors handle these cases differently. See our full guide for your county.
Calvert County
How fraud, embezzlement, tax, and federal white collar cases are investigated and prosecuted for Calvert County residents, and how we build the defense from the first contact.
Calvert County white collar defense →St. Mary's County
A full guide to defending weapon and firearm charges across St. Mary's County, from traffic stop handgun cases to PAX River federal overlap, in the Leonardtown court.
St. Mary's County weapon defense →How We Defend a Weapon Case
A weapon charge is built on the search, the possession, and the technical detail of the statute. We test each one.
The Stop & Search
Most gun cases start with a stop and a vehicle search. If either was unlawful, the firearm evidence can be suppressed.
Possession Itself
Being near a gun is not the same as possessing it. In a shared car or home, we challenge whether it was really yours.
The Statute
Permit scope, transport rules, and weapon definitions are technical. The detail often holds the defense.
Stacked Charges
Firearm counts that pile on mandatory time can sometimes be challenged or separated from the underlying case.
What to Expect
From First Call to Resolution
1
Free Case Review
Tell us what happened, including the stop and the search. We give you an honest read on the charge and your options, at no cost.
2
We Protect You Early
We step in on bail and on contact with police, and we start preserving the evidence that supports your defense.
3
We Attack the Case
We file motions to suppress an unlawful search, challenge possession and permit issues, and prepare every case as if for trial.
4
We Fight for the Outcome
Dismissal, suppression, a reduced charge, or probation before judgment that protects your record and your gun rights. We push for the best the facts allow.
Common Questions
Answers Before You Call
I had a permit. Why was I still charged?
A Maryland wear and carry permit does not cover everywhere. Many locations, including schools and other sensitive places, are off limits even for permit holders, and your permit may not cover how or where you carried. We look closely at the scope of your permit against what actually happened, because that detail is often the defense.
The gun was legal. Can I really be charged with a crime?
Yes. Many Maryland weapon charges have nothing to do with whether the gun itself is legal. They come from how it was carried, where it was, or how it was transported. A lawfully owned firearm carried the wrong way can still produce a charge, which is why these cases turn on the specific facts.
The police searched my car and found a gun. Was that legal?
Not always. Police need a lawful basis to stop you and a valid reason or warrant to search the vehicle. If the stop or the search broke the rules, we can move to suppress the firearm evidence, and a successful motion can end the case. We examine exactly how the stop and search unfolded.
It was not my gun. Can I still be convicted?
You can be charged, especially in a shared car or home, but the state has to prove the firearm was actually yours, not just near you. We challenge that link directly. Proximity to a weapon is not the same as possessing it under the law.
What is a mandatory minimum, and am I facing one?
Some Maryland firearm charges, like using a gun in a crime of violence or certain prohibited possession cases, carry a minimum sentence the judge cannot go below if you are convicted of that count. That is exactly why these charges have to be fought from the start, and why we work to defeat or reduce them before they reach sentencing.
Will a weapon charge cost me my gun rights?
It can. Certain convictions disqualify you from possessing firearms going forward, sometimes permanently. Protecting your record and, where possible, securing outcomes like probation before judgment is part of how we work to preserve your rights along with your freedom.
A Gun Charge Is Often More Defendable Than It Looks
How the firearm was found and the fine detail of the law both matter, and so do your options. Tell us what happened and get an honest read on your defense. The first conversation is free, and everything you tell us stays between us.
Arrested after hours? Call our 24/7 line: 240-687-0179
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC
Fax: 301-627-5848
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