Weapons crimes are common occurrences in Orlando, Florida, and throughout the rest of the state. Not all weapons crimes will result in you facing decades in prison or thousands of dollars in fines. There are two big distinctions between the types of weapons that can be used in the commission of a crime and these distinctions affect the charges and subsequent sentencing.
When it comes to defining a deadly weapon, the court will need to determine if any item used during the commission of a crime had the ability to cause the death of a person or serious bodily injury. In some instances, a gun that is not loaded has been considered a deadly weapon.
When looking at a dangerous weapon, the court must make a determination if the item used was capable of causing serious bodily injury but not death to the victim. The use of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime is a serious offense but not nearly as serious as the use of a deadly weapon during the commission of a crime.
It’s important to know the difference between these two terms, especially if you are facing weapons charges in Florida. You want to know the difference so that you can plan the right defense for the crime you reportedly committed and the charges you are facing.
As you can see, there is a big difference between a dangerous weapon and a deadly weapon. Now that you know the difference, you can work on defending your rights after being charged with a weapons crime in Orlando.