01 Aug 2 women face a weapons charge after stun guns were found

On behalf of Jack B. Rubin, PA posted in Weapons Crimes on Friday, August 1, 2014.

Any kind of weapon is prohibited on a plane in Maryland and across the country. Criminal charges, such as a weapons charge, can stem from individuals bringing weapons into the TSA checkpoint area at the airport. In addition, those who are accused of such a crime are at risk of paying a penalty of as much as $11,000.

Two women were recently forbidden to board their planes because it was allegedly determined that they had stun guns in their carry-on bags. Their stun guns were confiscated and they were both charged. They were eventually allowed to board their planes. The incidents were unrelated.

It is likely that the two women simply carried these stun guns with them as a means of protection. It is also possible that they forgot they had them in their purses. Alternatively, they may have had no idea that stun guns were not prohibited on the plane since the guns do not use bullets. This is something that their legal counsel may wish to confirm and potentially use to try and obtain an acquittal of the state weapons charge.

Even for first-time offenders, the penalties associated with a weapons charge can be very harsh. Luckily, there are several defense strategies that can potentially be used in order to possibly avoid a conviction. Each situation is different and will require a different defense depending on the specifics of the incident. Therefore, it is important for Maryland individuals who have been accused of a weapons crime to become familiar with all options while also preserving their constitutional rights.

Source: wbaltv.com, “TSA: 2 women at BWI caught with stun guns“, Saliqa Khan, July 18, 2014