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Under federal law, illegal drugs are classified into different categories based on a number of criteria. These classifications inform potential criminal penalties for drug possession, sale, use, and production.  State laws often model their own drug laws after these classifications, including Washington state. If you are facing criminal charges for drug crimes in Washington,…

The mental capacity of a defendant plays a major role in a criminal case. While many states treat incapacitated individuals the same as mentally competent ones, others consider whether the defendant’s insanity could have led to the crime that took place. In Washington, if a person faces conviction for a crime and successfully proves…

When facing criminal charges, there are multiple defenses that a person may invoke to defend himself or herself. One common defense is an alibi, or type of defense that alleges that someone accused of a crime was somewhere else at the time of the incident. If you are facing criminal charges, providing an alibi…

In Washington, owning a gun comes with several requirements and responsibilities. For example, you cannot carry a firearm while on public school premises unless you are a military or law enforcement officer. You must register your firearm and store it in a safe, secure location. When driving, you may wonder if you can carry…

Every person has the right to defend himself or herself in a dangerous situation. For many, carrying self-defense weapons could deter attackers, but many states have laws against certain devices like stun guns. In these situations, you may wonder: are stun guns legal in Washington state? The answer is yes: the sale, possession, and…

Washington imposes several laws in regard to gun ownership. To legally possess a gun in the state, you must undergo a background check and fill out important forms, such as a Federal Firearm Transaction Record.  However, some people attempt to circumvent these laws by building privately made or homemade firearms, known as “ghost guns”,…