June 30, 2017
Armed Criminal Action & Unlawful Use of a Weapon
Armed criminal action (ACA) is the legal term for any criminal charge involving the use of a firearm or other deadly weapon in Missouri or Kansas. Unlawful use of weapons is defined as a person knowingly carrying concealed weapons like a knife, firearm, or other weapons readily capable of lethal use. Keep reading for more detailed information.
ACA Felonies & Misdemeanors
- ACA is a Felony charge. It is usually charged with crimes where a weapon was used or displayed such as various degrees of murder and manslaughter, armed robbery, armed assault, and rape and felon in possession of a gun.
- Misdemeanors would include unlawful carrying or transportation of a weapon, public endangerment, illegal discharge of a firearm, and other offenses not always resulting in injury to another person.
Examples of Unlawful Use of a Weapon
- Discharging a firearm into a dwelling house, train, aircraft, boat, motor vehicle, or other building/structure that is used for assembling people
- Exhibiting a weapon in an angry or threatening manner in the presence of one or more people
- Negligently handling or using a weapon or firearm capable of lethal use while intoxicated (unless acting in self-defense)
- Discharging a weapon within 100 yards of any occupied school, courthouse or church,
- Discharging a firearm across a public highway
- Carrying a firearm into a church or any federal, state, or political government building, at or from a motor vehicle, into a school, a school bus or any other activity sponsored by a school official.
ACA Conviction
A conviction sentence is a minimum of three years incarceration with no chance of parole for those years. However, that’s only the minimum. Depending on the crime and what the weapon used was, the judge or jury can create sentences as long as they see fit for the crime. Extremely dangerous and multiple offense individuals can end up spending the rest of their lives in prison.