Necessary Documentation for Carrying a Firearm in Philadelphia

When an individual in the City and County of Philadelphia legally possesses a properly registered and purchased firearm on their person, they have the right to carry the firearm and must have the license to carry a concealed weapon with them at all times. The license is typically carried in a person’s wallet or on their person in a manner that is easily obtainable should the police request such information. Upon a police stop for any reason, the individual has an obligation to provide and show that license to carry to the police, even before the police question them. To understand the necessary documentation for carrying a firearm in Philadelphia, a person may need to contact a dedicated gun lawyer. Knowledgeable legal counsel could answer any questions you may have.

Required Paperwork for Legally Possessing a Firearm

Individuals who legally possess firearms in Philadelphia are recommended to always have their carry permit showing they have a right to own such a firearm and to have it concealed on their person and/or in their automobile. This right is typically given by the office of Licenses and Inspections. A driver’s license may often be used as identification verifying that the correct person actually had the license to carry.

A Pennsylvania driver’s license and/or another form of identification should also be carried with the photograph indicating that the same person who purchased the firearm legally is the person carrying such firearm. An attorney could show people in Philadelphia what paperwork they may need in order to possess a firearm.

Potential Charges for Illegally Carrying a Gun in Philadelphia

Individuals who are found to illegally possess or carry a firearm are potentially subject to serious crimes in the City and County of Philadelphia. Individuals who merely carry a firearm unlawfully on the streets of Philadelphia face a potential charge for a violation of the Uniform Firearms Act § 6108, a Misdemeanor of the First Degree.

A Misdemeanor of the First Degree may carry up to five years in jail and a $10,000 fine on its own. Individuals who are found to unlawfully carry a firearm concealed on their person or in a vehicle may be subject to a violation of the Uniform Firearms Act § 6106, a Felony of the Third Degree. Those individuals could face a sentence as high as three and one-half to seven years in jail and a minimum $15,000 fine. Firearms are taken very seriously in the City and County of Philadelphia, and when an individual who is ineligible to have a firearm has a firearm unlawfully, the court takes that into account during sentencing.

Individuals with a prior record may be charged with a violation of the Uniform Firearms Act as an ineligible person to even have a firearm under §6105 of the Pennsylvania Criminal Code. In those cases, individuals may be charged with crimes as high as Felonies of the First Degree, which carry a potential of up to 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. An individual in Philadelphia accused of carrying a firearm without the required documentation could speak to a gun attorney about their legal options.

A Gun Lawyer in Philadelphia Could Help

The City of Philadelphia and Philadelphia County are not places for individuals to carry an unlawful firearm. If an individual is charged with such a crime in the City of Philadelphia and Philadelphia County, they may find it necessary to obtain the services of an experienced Philadelphia gun attorney to be assured that their rights will be protected and everything will be done to either remove the case or mitigate the charges to reduce a potential state prison sentence. Learn the necessary documentation for carrying a firearm in Philadelphia by calling an attorney today.