Under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, citizens have the right to bear arms. However, under some circumstances, they are prohibited from possessing, shipping, or receiving firearms or ammunition.
Such restrictions are placed on various individuals, including:
- Convicted felons
- Fugitives
- Drug abusers
- Individuals dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces
- People with restraining orders issued in their names
- Individuals convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence
Increase in Gun Crime Charges
Citing recent cases involving illegal gun use, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, Peter Deegan, said that his office, in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, will be harshly prosecuting these types of offenses.
Since March of 2019, federal prosecutors have charged 32 individuals with federal crimes. Charges include prohibited persons in possession of firearms, as well as possessing a gun to further the commission of a crime. The number of individuals accused of committing such an offense has risen in recent years. In 2018, 166 cases were filed, which is an increase from the 90 charges made just two years earlier.
Project Safe Neighborhoods Reinvigorated
The gun crimes arrests are part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program. This nationwide initiative seeks to bring together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to reduce violent crimes. Although the project was launched in 2002, Deegan bolstered the program in Iowa when he became U.S. District Attorney in 2017.
Get Aggressive Defense from Our Team at Keegan, Tindal & Jaeger
With federal prosecutors seeking to land gun crimes convictions, individuals may be wrongly charged with violating the law. If you have been accused of or are being investigated for this type of offense, contact our skilled lawyers today. We will put our 50 years of combined experience to work for you. Our team will thoroughly review every detail of your case and build a solid defense on your behalf. We will challenge the prosecutor’s evidence and work toward a favorable result.
To schedule your free consultation, call us at (319) 499-5524 or contact us online.