Defending Gun Charges
Carry, Possession & 10-20-Life Weapons Defense in Orange County
Defending clients facing firearms charges and protecting Second Amendment rights. Serving Orlando, Orange County, and all of Florida.
Defending Your Freedom
and Your Rights
Firearm Rights Defense
Weapons charges in Orange County can carry mandatory-minimum prison time and the permanent loss of your right to own a firearm. We defend both your freedom and your Second Amendment rights, and we account for Florida's permitless-carry law in every case.
10-20-Life Exposure
Florida's 10-20-Life law imposes harsh mandatory minimums when a firearm is used in certain felonies. We fight to keep the enhancement from attaching — because once it does, a Ninth Circuit judge cannot sentence below it.
Search & Seizure Challenges
Many Orlando weapons cases begin with a traffic stop on I-4 or OBT, or a pat-down downtown. If police lacked lawful grounds for the stop or search, the firearm evidence may be suppressed.
Weapons Charges Carry
Mandatory Minimums
Florida treats firearm offenses harshly, and some carry mandatory prison time that an Orange County judge cannot avoid once the enhancement applies. If you are facing weapons charges in Orlando, keeping that enhancement from attaching is often the single most important fight in the case.
Your Orlando Weapons Defense Process
Florida punishes firearm offenses harshly, and some carry mandatory minimums a judge cannot avoid. Here is how we fight both the charge and the enhancement.
Free, Confidential Case Review
Call (407) 801-0101 for a free, confidential consultation. We review the exact weapons charge, how the firearm was found, whether Florida's permitless-carry law helps you, and whether any mandatory enhancement truly applies.
Attack the Stop & the Search
We obtain the body-cam and dash-cam footage and the arrest affidavit and scrutinize the stop and search. If the firearm was found through an unlawful stop, pat-down, or vehicle search, we move to suppress it in the Ninth Circuit.
Fight the Charge & the Enhancement
We contest possession where the firearm was not in your hand, raise lawful-carry defenses under current Florida law, and challenge whether 10-20-Life or another enhancement legally applies — because the enhancement is often worth fighting as hard as the underlying charge.
Resolution or Trial
We negotiate for a reduction, diversion, or dismissal where the evidence supports it, and when the State overreaches on a mandatory-minimum case, we are ready to try it before an Orange County jury.
Orlando Gun Charges Lawyer — Defending Weapons Cases in Orange County
Firearm and weapons charges in Orlando are prosecuted aggressively, and some carry mandatory-minimum prison sentences that strip a judge of discretion. Florida's weapons laws (Fla. Stat. Chapter 790) cover everything from carrying issues to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon — and while Florida's permitless-carry law changed the landscape for lawful gun owners, it did not make weapons charges disappear.
HOV Law defends the full range of these cases in the Ninth Judicial Circuit and focuses on two things: whether the firearm evidence was lawfully obtained, and whether a mandatory enhancement truly applies. Both can dramatically change the outcome of an Orange County case.
Our office is at 135 W Central Blvd, Suite 1150, in downtown Orlando, across from the Orange County Courthouse. Your consultation is free and confidential, and we offer transparent fees. Call (407) 801-0101.
Florida's Permitless Carry Law — What Changed and What Didn't
- On July 1, 2023, Florida's "constitutional carry" law (HB 543) took effect, allowing eligible people to carry a concealed firearm without first obtaining a government-issued permit. That change matters to many Orlando carry cases—but it is widely misunderstood, and it did not legalize carrying for everyone.
- The eligibility criteria still apply—You must be at least 21, legally allowed to possess a firearm under state and federal law, carry valid ID, and not be prohibited by any other law or court order. Permitless carry does not help someone who was never eligible to carry in the first place.
- Prohibited persons are still prohibited—Convicted felons and others barred from possession gain nothing from the new law; those charges are unaffected.
- Location restrictions remain—Carrying is still prohibited in places like schools, courthouses, and certain government buildings, and open carry generally remains restricted.
- Because the law is recent and fact-specific, whether it is a defense to your charge depends on the details. We assess exactly how the new statute applies to your Orange County case.
Common Florida Weapons Charges
- Carrying a concealed firearm without eligibility—Even under permitless carry, carrying while ineligible (for example, under 21 or otherwise prohibited) can be charged as a third-degree felony.
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon—A serious felony that can carry a mandatory-minimum prison sentence, and one of the most heavily prosecuted weapons charges in Orange County.
- Improper exhibition of a firearm or weapon—Displaying a weapon in a rude, careless, angry, or threatening manner, typically charged as a misdemeanor.
- Discharging a firearm in public—A felony depending on the circumstances and location.
- Possession or use of a firearm during another felony—Triggers Florida's 10-20-Life enhancements.
Florida's 10-20-Life Law
Florida's "10-20-Life" statute (Fla. Stat. § 775.087) imposes mandatory-minimum sentences when a firearm is used in the commission of certain felonies: generally a 10-year minimum for producing a firearm, 20 years for discharging one, and 25 years to life if someone is shot. Because these minimums are mandatory, a Ninth Circuit judge cannot sentence below them once they apply — no matter the mitigating circumstances.
That is exactly why so much weapons defense focuses on keeping the enhancement from attaching in the first place: challenging whether a firearm was actually used, discharged, or possessed as alleged, and whether the underlying felony qualifies. In Orange County, we fight the enhancement as hard as the underlying charge, because it often controls the entire outcome.
How We Defend Weapons Charges in Orange County
- Search and seizure—If the traffic stop on I-4 or OBT, the pat-down, or the vehicle search that found the firearm was unlawful, we move to suppress the evidence — and without the gun, the case often collapses.
- Possession disputes—"Constructive possession" cases require the State to prove you knew about the firearm and had the ability to control it, which is highly contestable when a gun is found in a shared car or home.
- Lawful-carry defenses—Florida's permitless-carry law and its statutory exceptions may apply to your situation; we assess whether your carry was actually lawful.
- Enhancement challenges—We contest whether 10-20-Life or another mandatory enhancement legally applies to your Orange County case.
- Rights restoration context—For felon-in-possession allegations, we examine whether and how firearm rights were affected and every available defense.
Why Early Representation Matters in Gun Cases
Weapons cases are different because the sentence can be locked in by statute before a judge ever exercises discretion. Once a 10-20-Life enhancement or a felon-in-possession mandatory minimum attaches, the room to negotiate shrinks dramatically.
That means the defense has to start early — while charging decisions are still being made and before the State commits to a mandatory-minimum theory. The sooner we are involved in your Orange County case, the more we can do to challenge the stop, contest possession, and keep an enhancement off the table. Call HOV Law at (407) 801-0101 as soon as possible.
Our Downtown Orlando Office
HOV Law is located at 135 W Central Blvd, Suite 1150, Orlando, FL 32801 — downtown, across from the Orange County Courthouse where weapons cases are prosecuted in the Ninth Circuit. Call (407) 801-0101 for a free, confidential consultation.
Related Practice Areas in Orlando
Gun Charges charges often overlap with other criminal allegations. Our Orlando defense attorneys also handle these related areas:
Other Criminal Defense Services in Orlando
Also serving Orlando for Personal Injury:
Serge Hovhanessian, Esq.
Founding Attorney at HOV Law | Florida Bar | Million Dollar Advocates Forum | Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers
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Orlando Gun Charges FAQs
Do I need a license to carry a firearm in Florida?
Since July 1, 2023, Florida allows eligible people to carry a concealed firearm without a permit under the "constitutional carry" law (HB 543). But the eligibility rules still apply — you must be 21, legally allowed to possess a firearm, and not otherwise prohibited. If you have been charged with a carry offense, we can assess whether the law is a defense.
Did permitless carry make all Orlando gun charges go away?
No. The 2023 law changed the rules for eligible, lawful gun owners, but it did not help prohibited persons (like convicted felons), it did not remove location restrictions (schools, courthouses, some government buildings), and it did not affect enhancements like 10-20-Life. Many weapons charges are still actively prosecuted in Orange County.
What is Florida's 10-20-Life law?
It imposes mandatory-minimum prison sentences when a firearm is used in certain felonies — generally 10 years for producing one, 20 for discharging it, and 25-to-life if someone is shot. Because the minimums are mandatory and a judge cannot go below them, fighting to keep the enhancement from attaching is critical.
Can a convicted felon ever possess a firearm in Florida?
Generally no. Under Florida and federal law, a convicted felon cannot possess a firearm or ammunition unless firearm rights have been restored through a separate legal process, and violations carry serious mandatory penalties. We defend possession-by-a-felon charges vigorously, including on search and constructive-possession grounds.
The gun wasn't mine — can I still be charged?
Yes, through "constructive possession," if a firearm was found in a car or home you controlled. But the State must prove you knew about it and had the ability to control it — which we can challenge, especially when a weapon is found in a shared vehicle or residence with other occupants.
What happens if police searched my car and found a gun?
Police still need a lawful basis for the stop and the search — probable cause, valid consent, or a recognized exception. If the stop on I-4 or OBT or the search was unlawful, we move to suppress the firearm, which can end the case. We review the body-cam and dash-cam footage closely.
Can weapons charges be reduced or dismissed in Orange County?
Yes. If the firearm was found through an illegal search, or a mandatory enhancement does not legally apply, charges can be reduced or dismissed. We examine both the evidence and the sentencing exposure to find the best path in your case.
Where will my Orlando weapons case be heard?
Felony weapons charges are prosecuted in the Ninth Circuit's Circuit Court at the Orange County Courthouse, 425 N Orange Ave; misdemeanor weapons offenses like improper exhibition are heard in County Court. Our office is directly across the street.
Why is early representation so important in gun cases?
Because mandatory minimums can take sentencing out of the judge's hands, the defense strategy has to start early — before charging decisions and mandatory-minimum theories are locked in. Call HOV Law at (407) 801-0101 as soon as possible.
How much does an Orlando gun charges lawyer cost?
HOV Law offers a free, confidential consultation and clear, transparent fees for weapons defense. The fee reflects the seriousness of the charge and any mandatory-minimum exposure, and whether the case resolves pretrial or goes to trial. Call (407) 801-0101.
Facing Weapons Charges in
Orlando?
Mandatory-minimum exposure makes early defense critical. Contact HOV Law for a free, confidential consultation with an Orlando gun charges attorney. Available 24/7.