Firearms have always been a point of contention. Many value their right to own and carry a gun while others see this Second Amendment right as a threat to society. There are a number of weapon laws that are fairly well known, like needing a license to carry a gun and avoiding particular locations, such as schools or hospitals, while carrying a weapon. However, there are also weapon laws that you may not know about. Being fully informed on Texas gun legislation is critical not only for gun owners but all Texans. By understanding the ins and outs of these weapon regulations, you can exercise your Second Amendment rights while also abiding by the law. Failure to do so can lead to criminal charges and serious penalties, including significant time behind bars.

1. Prohibited Weapons

Just because you have a valid weapons license does not mean that you legally have access to any weapon of your choosing. There are a number of weapons that are strictly prohibited in Texas. Anyone who intentionally or knowingly possesses, manufactures, repairs, sells, or transports any of the following weapons is breaking the law: an explosive weapon, a machine gun, a short-barrel firearm, armor-piercing ammunition, a chemical dispensing device, a zip gun, a tire deflation device, a firearm silencer, and an improvised explosive device.

Being convicted of a crime at any age can be a terrifying experience. Not knowing how the court system works or not having a good understanding of the possible consequences of your conviction can make the months of your criminal trial feel like years. For minors, the process can be even more daunting. Your crimes may take you away from your home and family, and in some cases, warrant that you are tried as an adult. The state of Texas allows some juvenile cases to be tried in adult court depending on the details of the charge. No matter the severity of your crime, it is always advisable to work with a reputable criminal defense attorney to be fully informed on the legal process and have a trained defender on your side.

Trying a Juvenile as an Adult

The state of Texas has two separate courts -- juvenile and adult courts. Those who are between the ages of 10 and 17 fall within the juvenile court system. Once minors reach the age of 18, they are no longer eligible to be tried in juvenile court. The age restrictions of these courts, however, are not fully set in stone and those who are 14 years or older may be tried in an adult court if their criminal charge is serious enough to warrant this harsher jurisdiction. Known as a certification or transfer hearing, the Texas juvenile court may waive its right to the minor’s case, transferring the child to stand trial in an adult criminal district court.

Anyone who has a driver’s license understands how easy it is to break a traffic law. Speeding can quickly become second nature, and running a red light may not seem as serious when you are in a rush. The worst thing about it? The more you break these seemingly minor traffic laws without getting caught, the more likely you are to continue doing it. 

Texas is ranked as one of the top five states for issuing traffic tickets and the state has seen its fair share of violations. According to Safe2Drive, the fastest speeding ticket in the world was issued in Texas in 2003, with a recorded speed of 242 mph. Speeding is one of the most common violations that occur, but it is considered minor in the state of Texas. Depending on the risk that the violation poses on the driver themselves and the other drivers on the road, particular traffic offenses can be considered major and come with severe criminal penalties.

With every generation comes new vices and different substances that people use to get a buzz or a high. In many cases, old drugs, also known as controlled substances, reach their peak, disappear, then resurge decades later in a new manner. Over the past decade, the legalization of marijuana has come to the forefront of U.S. policy. In many states, this drug has been legalized for both medical and recreational use, and since its height in the 1970s, marijuana has modernized and become accessible through many different platforms. Various other drugs are following this modern evolution, including a drug known as Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB). Gone are the days where obtaining illegal substances was done through word of mouth and the handing off of a discreet package. Now, such exchanges can be done online, leading to increased market size.

What Is GHB?

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid was first synthesized in a lab in the 1960s but saw its recreational heights in the early 2000s. In small doses, this clear liquid creates feelings of relaxation, sexual arousal, and confusion, as well as amnesia and hallucinations, which is why it became so popular as a party drug. GHB’s clear coloring led to its label as a date-rape drug, though it has not been found in many sexual assault cases. The true danger of this drug lies in its overdose symptoms: coma and respiratory arrest, making the overdosed user appear to be sleeping off its effects.

Desafortunadamente, faltar a la corte es una de las peores cosas que puede hacer en su caso. No es como perder una cita con el dentista que simplemente puede reprogramar. Si el juez lo llama por la mañana y usted no está allí, sucederán dos cosas. Lo primero es que obtendrá una orden de arresto por no aparecer en el caso original. Lo segundo que sucederá es que estará sujeto a un cargo adicional bajo el Código Penal de Texas por la pérdida de la fianza y la falta de comparecencia. Desafortunadamente, si faltó a la corte, ahora ha agravado sus problemas.

¿Cuáles son los castigos por perder mi cita en la corte?

Obtendrá una orden de arresto en su caso original; si ese caso fue un delito menor, obtendrá un cargo adicional por delito menor y si el caso que perdió fue un delito grave, obtendrá un cargo adicional por delito grave.

¿Qué debo hacer si me pierdo la audiencia en la corte?

Entonces si pierde la corte, esa orden será lo que se llama una "orden de detención", y permite que cualquier agente de la ley lo recoja durante una violación de tráfico, lo recoja en su casa, lo recoja en el trabajo. Entonces, si tiene una orden de arresto emitida en su nombre, lo que debe hacer es comunicarse de inmediato con un abogado. Podemos acudir al juez en su nombre, tratar de explicar las circunstancias que rodearon su falta de comparecencia ante el tribunal, tratar de restablecer la fianza, tratar de obtener otro conjunto de fianzas, tratar de hacer cualquier cosa para evitar que tenga que ir a la cárcel.