A Violation of the Uniform Firearms Act (VUFA) is any firearms crime related to the use, transfer, possession, manufacturing, and sale of firearms. Pennsylvania’s Consolidated Statutes defines each of these crimes under Title 18, Chapter 61, Subchapter A. People charged with a VUFA have the right to a criminal defense attorney and should exercise it […]
What to Know About Philadelphia Firearms Charges If Arrested
Philadelphia surpasses well more than 500 homicides from gun violence in 2021, city police are actively enforcing local, county, and state laws. Some local officials are reporting no “crisis” of criminal activity in the city just days before police stated that there were 23 homicide arrests in recent weeks with many related to Philadelphia firearms […]
PA Sup. Ct. Addresses Drug Dealing with a Firearm Sentences
The case is Commonwealth v. Hanson, _ A.3d _ (2013), 2013 WL 6831854 (Pa. Supreme Ct., Dec. 27, 2013). The opinion is written by Justice Saylor. And, the application of a gun plus drug dealing mandatory minimum is overruled, because a defendant must be in knowing, physical possession or control, which is constructive control, an […]
Nervousness, Reaching Justify Suspicion for Weapons Search
Criminal lawyers in Philadelphia need to be aware of cases where police claim their clients appeared nervous and made furtive movements. The latest case on this issue is Commonwealth v. Buchert, — A.3d —, 2013 WL 1499347 (Apr. 12, 2013) from the Pennsylvania Superior Court. In Buchert, the Court held that, during a nighttime car […]
Drug Offense Committed with Firearm Sentences Affirmed
In Commonwealth v. Hawkins, _ A.3d _ (2012), 2012 Pa. Super. 85 (Apr. 12, 2012), the Superior Court of Pennsylvania affirmed a mandatory-minimum sentence of five years imprisonment for certain drug offenses committed with a firearm under 42 Pa.C.S. Sec. 9712.1. Hawkins’ criminal lawyer argued in this case that the sentencing court should had not […]