"She guided me through the entire process and was incredibly thorough. She always had an answer for my questions and made me feel confident and positive."
Charged with a weapons or firearms offence in Edmonton?
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When the charge involves a weapon, Purser Law fights the search.
Weapons charges move fast, and the consequences outlast the sentence: prohibitions, forfeiture, a record. Many of these cases turn on how police found the weapon. If the search was unlawful, the evidence can be excluded, and that is where she starts.
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- Charter search review
- Trial and appeal experience
- Mandatory minimums at stake
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Trial and appeal defenceProvincial Court and Court of King's Bench
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Edmonton · Yellowknife · KelownaOffices across Western and Northern Canada
Read this before you talk to anyone
If You Have Been Charged, or Think You Might Be
The first hours of a case often decide how it ends. Four things to do right now:
1
Say nothing without counsel
Police are trained to take statements. You are not required to give one. Ask for a lawyer, then stay silent until you have one.
2
Do not discuss the case
No calls, no texts, no posts, and no contact with anyone charged with you. Release conditions usually require it.
3
Preserve everything
Keep texts, photos, and call logs. Write out your timeline while it is fresh. Delete nothing.
4
Call a defence lawyer now
Bail, the police interview, and the Crown's first read of the file all happen early. So should our involvement.
What you are facing
The Stakes in a Weapons Case
Most firearms offences are prosecuted under Part III of the Criminal Code. Several carry heavy maximums, and a conviction brings a weapons prohibition order on top of any sentence. The courts have struck down mandatory minimums for some of these offences, but the ceiling remains high.
- A criminal record that follows you: employment, travel, volunteering, immigration
- Mandatory weapons prohibition orders on conviction
- Forfeiture of firearms, licences, and anything seized
- Bail conditions that start immediately: curfews, no-go zones, sureties
These are maximums set by Parliament, not predictions. Sentencing depends on the facts, the Crown's election, and the defence advanced on your behalf.
| Offence, Criminal Code | Maximum Penalty |
|---|---|
| Careless use or storage of a firearm, s. 86 | Up to 2 years imprisonment |
| Unauthorized possession of a firearm, ss. 91 to 92 | Up to 5 years imprisonment |
| Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm, s. 95 | Up to 14 years imprisonment |
| Assault with a weapon, s. 267 | Up to 10 years imprisonment |
How we defend these cases
Most Weapons Cases Turn on the Search
If the police found the weapon unlawfully, the case can end before trial. Our process starts there.
01
Case Assessment
We obtain the full Crown disclosure: the warrant, the ITO, officer notes, and forensic reports. Then we reconstruct how the weapon was found.
02
Charter and Search Review
Section 8 protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. If the search of you, your vehicle, or your home was unlawful, we move to exclude the evidence.
03
Possession and Knowledge
The Crown must prove you knew about the weapon and had some control over it. Proximity is not possession. We test that proof.
04
Trial and Resolution
Some cases should be tried. Others should be resolved early on the best available terms. We give you a frank recommendation and act on your instructions.
Why Purser Law
Serious Charges Deserve a Serious Defence
Led by Stacey Purser
Every file is led personally by Stacey Purser, known for meticulous preparation, straight answers, and strong advocacy in the courtroom. That includes firearms and weapons cases where the search, not the facts, decides the outcome.
Search and seizure focus
Many of these cases are decided by the Charter, not the facts. We litigate unlawful searches, detentions, and warrants.
A team on your file
More than one set of eyes on every case. Our lawyers and staff review disclosure, test defences, and prepare you together.
Discretion built in
These cases are personal before they are legal. Consultations are confidential, and every file is handled with care.
Local knowledge
We appear at the Edmonton Law Courts and throughout northern Alberta. We know the Crown's office and how these cases are run here.
Straight answers, fast
You will always know where your case stands and what happens next. In plain language, without waiting days for a call back.
Client reviews
What Clients Say About Working With Us
"Stacey and Catelyn were extremely detailed in my case. I got the best possible result ending with no criminal charges or record. Highly recommend this law firm."
"She was upfront about everything and kept me in the loop the whole time. If you ever need a lawyer, I highly recommend Purser Law."
Common questions
Your Questions, Answered Plainly
Not automatically. The Crown must prove you knew it was there and had some control over it.
If it belonged to someone else or you did not know about it, that is a defence. How the
police found it matters too, because an unlawful search can end the case.
It is the legal category of the firearm, and it changes the charge. Non-restricted covers
most ordinary rifles and shotguns. Restricted covers most handguns. Prohibited covers
firearms listed by regulation. The category determines which section of the Criminal Code
applies and how the Crown proceeds.
A prohibition order is mandatory on conviction for many of these offences, and seized
firearms are usually forfeited. We advise you early on what can be protected and what
cannot.
Yes. A warrant is only as strong as the information used to obtain it. If the application
was misleading, incomplete, or based on stale information, the search can be ruled unlawful
and the evidence excluded.
Jail is common for serious firearms charges, but several mandatory minimum sentences have
been struck down by the courts. Sentencing depends on the facts, the election, and the
defence advanced. We give you a frank assessment once we see the disclosure.
Most cases run several months to over a year, depending on the court, the pace of
disclosure, and whether there is a Charter motion. At the outset we map the likely timeline
so you know what to expect.
The consultation is free and carries no obligation. Legal fees depend on the complexity of
the case and whether it goes to trial. We set out fees in writing before you commit to
anything.
Free and confidential
The Sooner You Call, the More Options You Have
Bail is set in the first days. Interviews happen in the first hours. Early advice shapes everything that follows. Tell us what happened and a lawyer will contact you as soon as possible.
780-851-7435Call or text, any time. Urgent matters are answered around the clock.
Edmonton, Head Office: #200, 10237 104th Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 1B1
Yellowknife: 2nd Floor, Diamond Plaza, 5204 Franklin Ave., Yellowknife, NT X1A 1E2
Kelowna: #210, 347 Leon Ave., Kelowna, BC V1Y 6H9
Yellowknife: 2nd Floor, Diamond Plaza, 5204 Franklin Ave., Yellowknife, NT X1A 1E2
Kelowna: #210, 347 Leon Ave., Kelowna, BC V1Y 6H9
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