Firing a weapon outside the controlled environment of Sprague’s Sports or the Yuma MatchMasters range at Adair carries serious legal risk the moment it happens within city limits. Arizona’s Shannon’s Law makes knowingly discharging a firearm in a municipality a felony, whether the shot was intentional, celebratory, or accidental. A proven Yuma discharge of a firearm lawyer from Lerner and Rowe Law Group is who you need when those charges arrive.
Shannon’s Law charges carry real felony consequences, and the state takes them seriously. The Yuma defense attorneys at Lerner and Rowe Law Group bring more than 70 years of combined experience to firearms cases throughout Arizona. Call (520) 620-6200 today for a confidential and free consultation.
Understanding Arizona’s Unlawful Discharge Statute (ARS 13-3107)
Arizona’s ARS 13-3107 statute, commonly known as Shannon’s Law, was enacted in 2000 after a 14-year-old Phoenix girl was struck and killed by a stray bullet fired into the air. Since then, unlawful discharge of a weapon in Arizona has carried felony consequences that apply regardless of whether anyone was harmed. A Yuma discharge of a firearm lawyer from Lerner and Rowe Law Group will identify exactly what the prosecution is alleging and whether the evidence supports each element of the charge.
When Does a Yuma Discharge of a Firearm Become a Felony?
Under ARS 13-3107, the charge applies whenever a person knowingly discharges a firearm within or into the limits of any municipality. The offense becomes a Class 6 felony when:
- The discharge occurred within city limits, regardless of direction or intended target
- No lawful exception applies, such as self-defense or defense of property
- The person knew or should reasonably have known they were within a municipality
- The firearm was not discharged at a licensed range or during an approved activity
The statute does not require that anyone be injured. The act of discharging the firearm within city limits is enough to support the felony charge on its own. A skilled Shannon’s Law defense attorney in Yuma at Lerner and Rowe Law Group will examine whether each element of the statute was genuinely satisfied before building your defense strategy.
Severe Penalties You Face Without Skilled Representation
Class 6 felony charges under Shannon’s Law are handled at Yuma County Superior Court, where the consequences of a conviction go well beyond the sentence itself. A Yuma discharge of a firearm lawyer from Lerner and Rowe Law Group will walk you through exactly what exposure you are facing and pursue every available path to protect your future.
Mandatory Prison Sentences and Loss of Civil Rights
The sentencing range often catches people off guard. A Yuma weapons charge lawyer at Lerner and Rowe Law Group has seen how quickly expectations shift once a court date is set. For a first-offense Class 6 felony with no prior felony record, the range is:
- Minimum: four months in state prison
- Presumptive: one year in state prison
- Maximum: two years in state prison
Prior felony convictions extend those ranges significantly. A conviction means losing the right to own or possess a firearm permanently. It affects voting rights, limits housing and employment options, and shows up on background checks for years to come. A dependable felony gun charge attorney in Yuma, AZ, at Lerner and Rowe Law Group will work to challenge the charge before any of those consequences have a chance to take hold.
How a Yuma Discharge of a Firearm Lawyer Defends Your Case
An experienced ARS 13-3107 lawyer at Lerner and Rowe Law Group knows which elements of the prosecution’s case are worth targeting. Knowledge is one. Location is another. Whether a lawful exception applies is a third. A Yuma discharge of a firearm lawyer on our team examines all of those from the first day of representation.
Challenging Criminal Negligence and Lawful Exceptions
The “knowingly” element in ARS 13-3107 is a real opening. A discharge caused by a mechanical malfunction or an unintentional trigger pull does not meet the knowledge requirement the statute demands. Your Yuma criminal defense attorney at Lerner and Rowe Law Group will examine the physical evidence, witness accounts, and circumstances of the discharge to build that argument when the facts support it.
The statute also carves out explicit exceptions for lawful self-defense and defense of property. If the discharge occurred in response to an immediate and credible threat, that exception can serve as a complete bar to conviction. The location itself is also contestable. If the shot occurred outside city limits, the statute does not apply, and the prosecution has to prove the precise location of the discharge beyond a reasonable doubt. When investigators violate your constitutional rights during the arrest or evidence-gathering process, those violations open suppression arguments that can remove evidence from the case entirely.
Contact a Yuma Discharge of a Firearm Lawyer Today
Shannon’s Law has real teeth, but every element of the charge has to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The experienced Yuma discharge of a firearm lawyers at Lerner and Rowe Law Group are ready to challenge the prosecution’s case from every angle and deliver you a favorable verdict. Our defense team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Reach out to us today to schedule your free consultation.
Call Lerner and Rowe Law Group anytime at (520) 620-6200, submit your case information through our secure contact form, or connect with our LiveChat agents to get started today.