People in Philadelphia have the right to bear arms, and many people legally own guns. There are also many Pennsylvanians who own guns illegally. People can lose their right to own guns if they commit various crimes or because of other past actions. There are also laws regarding where people can possess guns, and people must have permits to carry them on the streets. While there are a number of laws regulating the ownership and possession of guns, they are still legal to own, as long as one follows the rules.
However, there are other weapons that are illegal to own or possess at all. These are referred to as offensive weapons. These include bombs, grenades, machine guns, saw-offed shotguns, silencers on guns, daggers, knives, switchblades, stun guns, Tasers and others.
The only exceptions to this law are for law enforcement officers. If a person is convicted with weapons possession or of using an offensive weapon, they would be guilty of a misdemeanor in the first degree.
The penalties can also be severe if a person is convicted of possessing an offensive weapon. Nonetheless, simply being charged with possessing one does not mean that the person is automatically guilty though. There may be defenses available to the person who is charged.
Many of these defenses begin with whether the police properly searched the person or their home. If they did not obtain a proper search warrant or properly stop the person, then the evidence of the weapons may be suppressed making a conviction unlikely.
Many people in Philadelphia own or possess guns and offensive weapons. If the person is convicted, they may face serious consequences. But, a person who is charged with the crime is innocent until proven guilty, and there may be defenses available to the person, depending on the circumstances. Experienced attorneys understand the defenses and may be able to protect one’s rights.
Source: Pa.us, “Pennsylvania Statutes Title 18 § 908,” accessed on Jan. 26, 2016