Gun Charges Defense Attorney in Plano, TX

Defending Plano & Collin County Clients Against Gun Charges Since 1995

Facing a weapons charge in Plano means your case will move through Collin County courts, where the process depends on knowing the local prosecutors, the procedures, and the law. At Law Office of Mac Morris, Attorney Bryan Mac Morris has defended clients against gun charges and weapons offenses in this area since 1995, personally handling every case through resolution. No hand-off to associates. No delegation to paralegals.

Texas gun laws shift frequently, and people who believed their conduct was entirely lawful find themselves charged with a weapons offense. Whether you’re facing a misdemeanor unlawful carry charge or a felony firearm offense, the consequences of a conviction are serious and lasting. Start your defense now.

You don’t have to face your charges alone. Contact Law Office of Mac Morris today.

Weapons Charges Under Texas Penal Code Chapter 46

Texas Penal Code Chapter 46 governs weapons offenses in the state, and the range of charges a Plano resident may face is broader than most people expect.

Common charges include:

• Unlawful carrying of a weapon (UCW): Texas constitutional carry allows many adults to carry without a license-to-carry, but prohibited locations, criminal history bars, and conduct tied to other criminal activity can still result in a UCW arrest.
• Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon: A prior felony conviction bars firearm possession, with a waiting period defined by Texas Penal Code section 46.04.
• Possession of a prohibited weapon: Machine guns, firearm silencers, explosive weapons, zip guns, and armor-piercing ammunition are all prohibited under Texas law.
• Making a firearm accessible to a child: Negligent storage that gives a minor access to a firearm is a separate criminal offense.
• Carrying in a prohibited place: Schools, polling locations, courts, bars, and other designated spaces remain off-limits regardless of carry status.
• Charge enhancement with a deadly weapon: When a firearm or deadly weapon is present during another offense, Texas law can enhance the underlying charge. Simple assault, a misdemeanor, becomes aggravated assault, a felony, when a deadly weapon is used or exhibited.
• Federal firearms violations: Weapons trafficking and felon-in-possession charges under 18 U.S.C. section 922(g) carry separate and often harsher penalties than state charges, including mandatory minimums under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

Penalties for Gun Charges in Texas

The penalty range for a weapons conviction depends on the specific charge, the type of weapon involved, and the defendant’s criminal history. A Class A misdemeanor UCW conviction can result in up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $4,000. Felony offenses carry escalating ranges.

Texas felony sentencing ranges include:

• State jail felony: Up to two years in a state jail facility
• Third-degree felony: Two to ten years in prison
• Second-degree felony: Two to twenty years in prison
• First-degree felony: Five to 99 years or life in prison

Each felony tier also carries fines up to $10,000. A prior felony conviction or domestic violence conviction can elevate conduct that would otherwise be a misdemeanor into felony territory. Beyond incarceration, a conviction may result in permanent loss of the right to own or possess a firearm, along with a criminal record that can affect employment, housing, and immigration status.

How We Defend Gun Charges in Plano

Most unlawful carry arrests in Collin County originate from traffic stops, which makes the legality of the stop itself a key early line of defense. Attorney Mac Morris reviews every arrest thoroughly, from the initial stop or search through the evidence the prosecution intends to present at trial.

Fourth Amendment Challenges

Evidence obtained through an unlawful vehicle stop, warrantless search, or improper pat-down may be suppressed under the Fourth Amendment. When evidence is suppressed, charges may be reduced or dismissed. The prosecution must still prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, including that the defendant knowingly possessed or displayed the weapon and that the object legally qualifies as a firearm or prohibited weapon under Texas law.

Additional Defense Strategies

Additional defense strategies we evaluate include:

• Lack of possession when a weapon was found in a shared space or vehicle
• Valid license-to-carry or applicable statutory exception
• Mistaken identity or misidentification of the object
• Elapsed waiting period under section 46.04 for felon-in-possession charges
• Constitutional challenges to the search and seizure that produced the evidence

Attorney Mac Morris’s background in education shapes how he works with clients. You’ll understand your legal options at each stage, the realistic range of outcomes, and which decisions require your input. Defense is a collaboration, not something that happens to you.

Why Collin County Clients Choose Us for Gun Charges Defense

Felony weapons charges in Collin County are heard in the district courts in McKinney. Navigating those courts effectively requires familiarity with local prosecutors and procedures that comes from sustained practice in that courthouse. Law Office of Mac Morris has been defending clients in Plano and across Collin County since 1995, and Attorney Bryan Mac Morris has personally handled over 7,500 criminal matters, from misdemeanors to serious felonies, including both state and federal gun charges. Clients work directly with him from the initial consultation through the resolution of the case.

Talk to a Gun Charges Defense Lawyer in Plano Today

A weapons charge moves fast through the Collin County court system. The earlier we review your case, the more options may remain available. Contact Law Office of Mac Morris to discuss your situation with Attorney Mac Morris directly.

If you’ve been charged with a gun offense, call us at (972) 846-8214 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.