Union County Weapons Offenses Lawyer

Gun Crime Attorneys in Union County, New Jersey

The law firm of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC handles weapons offense cases throughout Union County. Our firm regularly represents clients charged with a weapons offense from Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, New Providence, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Union, Westfield and Winfield.

In 2007, Union County municipalities reported to the New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety the following violent crimes:

1. Town
2. Total Major Crimes
3. Crime Rate
4. Violent Rate
5. Murder
6. Rape
7. Robbery
8. Assault
9. Domestic violence

Berkeley Heights

• Total Major Crimes: 87
• Crime Rate: 6.4
• Violent Rate: 0.3
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 0
• Robbery: 0
• Assault: 4
• Domestic violence: 41

Clark

• Total Major Crimes: 227
• Crime Rate: 15.5
• Violent Rate: 0.5
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 1
• Robbery: 2
• Assault: 5
• Domestic violence: 38

Cranford

• Total Major Crimes: 242
• Crime Rate: 10.8
• Violent Rate: 0.5
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 1
• Robbery: 6
• Assault: 5
• Domestic violence: 102

Elizabeth

• Total Major Crimes: 6,275
• Crime Rate: 49.7
• Violent Rate: 7.5
• Murder: 16
• Rape: 25
• Robbery: 612
• Assault: 292
• Domestic violence: 807

Fanwood

• Total Major Crimes: 69
• Crime Rate: 9.6
• Violent Rate: 0.7
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 1
• Robbery: 2
• Assault: 2
• Domestic violence: 30

Garwood

• Total Major Crimes: 61
• Crime Rate: 14.4
• Violent Rate: 0.5
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 0
• Robbery: 1
• Assault: 1
• Domestic violence: 3

Hillside

• Total Major Crimes: 804
• Crime Rate: 37.1
• Violent Rate: 4.5
• Murder: 2
• Rape: 6
• Robbery: 67
• Assault: 22
• Domestic violence: 282

Kenilworth

• Total Major Crimes: 138
• Crime Rate: 17.8
• Violent Rate: 0.1
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 0
• Robbery: 0
• Assault: 1
• Domestic violence: 32

Linden

• Total Major Crimes: 1,498
• Crime Rate: 37.6
• Violent Rate: 3.6
• Murder: 1
• Rape: 6
• Robbery: 86
• Assault: 51
• Domestic violence: 358

Mountainside

• Total Major Crimes: 74
• Crime Rate: 11.1
• Violent Rate: 0.6
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 1
• Robbery: 0
• Assault: 3
• Domestic violence: 19

New Providence

• Total Major Crimes: 120
• Crime Rate: 10.1
• Violent Rate: 0.5
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 0
• Robbery: 1
• Assault: 5
• Domestic violence: 97

Plainfield

• Total Major Crimes: 1,856
• Crime Rate: 39.2
• Violent Rate: 10.2
• Murder: 4
• Rape: 9
• Robbery: 240
• Assault: 232
• Domestic violence: 754

Rahway

• Total Major Crimes: 744
• Crime Rate: 26.7
• Violent Rate: 3.1
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 1
• Robbery: 59
• Assault: 26
• Domestic violence: 396

Roselle

• Total Major Crimes: 468
• Crime Rate: 22.1
• Violent Rate: 4.0
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 0
• Robbery: 67
• Assault: 17
• Domestic violence: 174

Roselle Park

• Total Major Crimes: 278
• Crime Rate: 21.2
• Violent Rate: 2.2
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 1
• Robbery: 17
• Assault: 11
• Domestic violence: 83

Scotch Plains

• Total Major Crimes: 264
• Crime Rate: 11.4
• Violent Rate: 1.2
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 3
• Robbery: 6
• Assault: 19
• Domestic violence: 98

Springfield

• Total Major Crimes: 251
• Crime Rate: 17.1
• Violent Rate: 0.9
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 2
• Robbery: 6
• Assault: 5
• Domestic violence: 102

Summit

• Total Major Crimes: 296
• Crime Rate: 14.0
• Violent Rate: 0.5
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 0
• Robbery: 4
• Assault: 6
• Domestic violence: 145

Union

• Total Major Crimes: 1,488
• Crime Rate: 27.0
• Violent Rate: 2.7
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 1
• Robbery: 69
• Assault: 76
• Domestic violence: 225

Westfield

• Total Major Crimes: 371
• Crime Rate: 12.4
• Violent Rate: 0.6
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 2
• Robbery: 2
• Assault: 15
• Domestic violence: 84

Winfield

• Total Major Crimes: 11
• Crime Rate: 7.4
• Violent Rate: 0.7
• Murder: 0
• Rape: 0
• Robbery: 0
• Assault: 1
• Domestic violence: 14

Weapons Charges Are Handled in Union County Superior Court

Cases involving indictable offenses are handled by the Criminal Division of the Union County Superior Court, located in Elizabeth, New Jersey. An indictable offense requires a grand jury to decide whether sufficient evidence exists for a trial. All of the major criminal offenses detailed above are indictable offenses.

The Criminal Division of Union County Superior Court is comprised of the following judges:

• Scott J. Moynihan, P.J.S.C.
• Joseph P. Donohue, J.S.C.
• Douglas M. Fasciale, J.S.C.
• James C. Heimlich, J.S.C.
• Stuart Peim, J.S.C.
• John S. Triarsi, J.S.C.

The crimes listed above often involve the use of a weapon. Therefore, the Criminal Division frequently presides over weapons offense cases. Other cases the Court handles involving weapons offenses may include:

• Bringing knives or guns to school;
• Unlawfully possessing a gun due to a restraining order;
• Carrying a weapon without a permit or with an improper permit; or
• Falsifying permit information.

A Weapon Can Be Anything in New Jersey

A weapon can be any object depending on the purpose for which it is used. If the purpose of using the object is to commit a crime, it may be considered a weapon. For example, a knife is not considered a weapon if used lawfully. However, a knife used to commit an assault is a weapon.

Gun Possession in Union County, New Jersey

Some objects are inherently dangerous and possessing them may be a crime. In New Jersey, possession of a gun is unlawful if a person does not abide by the strict purchasing and carrying guidelines. A person must hold a firearms identification card to purchase any type of firearm. Furthermore, if a person wishes to buy a handgun, he must obtain a separate permit to purchase. In addition, a person generally may not carry a handgun without a New Jersey carry-permit. Failure to follow New Jersey’s strict guidelines on purchasing and carrying a firearm could lead to charges of unlawful possession against you. The penalties for these offenses are severe.

Union County Persons Who May Not Possess a Gun

Certain persons may not possess a gun under any circumstance. Convicted felons, persons on probation or parole, or persons with restraining orders against them may not possess or carry a firearm. Thus, even if a person follows the strict purchasing and carrying guidelines, he may still be violating the law and face harsh penalties.

Weapons Possession Penalties in Union County NJ

In New Jersey, the penalties for unlawful weapon possession are serious. The charts below outline the penalties for these offenses.

Unlawful Possession of a Weapon

N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-5

1. Offense
2. Grade
3. Imprisonment

Possession of a:

• Machine Gun
• Handgun without a Permit
• Rifle without a Firearms I.D.
• Loaded Rifle or Shotgun

3rd Degree: Up to 5 Years

• Other Weapons

4th Degree: Up to 18 Months

• Possession of a Weapon at a School

4th Degree: Up to 18 Months

Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose

N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-4

1. Offense
2. Grade
3. Imprisonment

Gun, Firearm or Explosive Device

• 2nd Degree: Up to 10 Years

Other Weapons

• 3rd Degree; Up to 5 Years

Imitation Firearm

• 4th Degree: Up to 18 Months

Weapons Offenses in New Jersey

New Jersey has many criminal offenses that require the use or possession of a weapon to obtain a conviction. The chart below details theses offenses.

1. Statute
2. Offense

• N.J.S.A. § 2C:15-1: Armed Robbery
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-3(a): Destructive Devices
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-3(b): Sawed-off Shotguns
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-3(c): Silencers
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-3(d): Defaced Firearms
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-3(e): Knives and other weapons
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-3(f): Body Armor Penetrating Bullets
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-4: Possession of Weapons for Unlawful Purpose
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-4(e): Imitation Firearms
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-4.1: Possession of Weapons During the Commission of Certain Crimes
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-5: Unlawful Possession of Weapons
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-5(a): Possession of a Machine Gun
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-5(f): Assault Firearms
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-7: Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-9: Unlawful disposition of Firearm
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-9.1: Sale of Large Hunting Knives to Persons Under Eighteen
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-10: Violation of Regulatory Provisions Relating to Firearms
• N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-10(c),(d),(e),(f): Providing False Information on Gun Permits and Applications

Free Consultations Available – Union County Weapons Offense Attorney

If you have been charged with a weapons offense in Union County, we may be able to assist you. Our firm’s defense attorneys have many years of experience handling these matters. Casey Woodruff and Gary Grabas are both former County Prosecutors and have handled numerous criminal weapons offense charges. Jon Bramnick is a Certified Civil Trial Lawyer.

We will work to possibly have the evidence against you suppressed and your charges dismissed. Contact us to schedule a free consultation. You can reach us 24 hours a day: (908) 322-7000.