Top Defenses To Assault Charges With Weapons For Business Owners: How Lawyers Help
by Barsha Bhattacharya Blog 31 May 2025
Sam is a business owner in Calgary. He got the charge for an assault with a weapon. His well-established bakery business almost reached the verge of closure, and his family was devastated.
Now, the real incident was that five goons attacked his bakery in the late hours, and he, a licensed bearer of a weapon, had to use it for self-defense and to protect others.
However, minor frictions led to bigger chaos, and he had to face the charge of weapon assault.
These are the situations when defenses to assault charges become mandatory for business owners.
Charges of assault with a weapon are a very serious legal issue that can impact one’s life dramatically, with jail time, large fines, and a lifelong criminal record.
If you or someone you know is being charged with this, you should contact an experienced assault with a weapon lawyer as soon as possible.
A competent criminal defense attorney like Bulwark Law can analyze your case and know the best legal strategy.
In this particular blog post, we will take a closer look at the most popular defenses that experienced lawyers use to fight against charges of assault with a weapon.
Top Defenses To Assault Charges: Here Are The Measures You Can Take To Protect Yourself
Fighting against firearms is a constant struggle for the Canadian Government. Even today, the situation is so grave that the Government of Canada had to issue a public statement on the 7th of 2025, about the banning of 179 additional styles of firearm makes and models.
Having said that, an Amnesty Order has been in place to protect individuals who were the licensed holders of firearm models that have been banned after the latest order. The time limit for the protection is till 1st March 2026.
**“An Amnesty Order is in place for these newly prohibited firearms until March 1, 2026, to protect individuals and businesses, who lawfully possessed the firearms prior to their prohibition, from criminal liability while they are taking steps to come into compliance with the law. The Amnesty Order permits the use of these firearms that were previously non-restricted to exercise a right recognized and affirmed under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, or for the purpose of sustenance hunting.”**
– Public Safety Canada
So, even the Government of Canada acknowledges that not every firearm owner should be punished.
Similarly, a business owner with the charges of weapon assault may not always be the person at fault. There are the following legal provisions or defenses to assault charges.
1. Self-Defense
Self-defense is one of the most common defenses in the case of assault using a weapon. For a successful defence using this, your assault defence lawyer with a weapon should show that Carol B. Ash, “Assault With a Weapon Lawyers,” (2008).
- Your life was in imminent danger of being hurt,
- You acted using reasonable force in protecting yourself,
- The weapon was applied as a preventative action to avoid getting hurt or killed.
If these aspects are established, the court might find your actions justifiable and non-criminal.
2. Defense Of Others
Like self-defense, this legal rhetoric states that you used force in protecting another person from imminent harm.
If another person was in danger and you were to do something to prevent injury with a weapon, your attorney can defend that your actions were legal and necessary.
3. Lack Of Intent
To convict a person of committing assault with a weapon, the prosecutors have to prove that the accused tried to harm or invoke fear.
Where there is no intent, i.e., in case of an accident or misunderstanding, your lawyer who offers the assault with weapon defense may help to get lighter charges or even dismiss the charges.
4. False Accusations
Sadly, it can be said that untruths relating to assault are not unusual. Truth can be particularly different where passions play a major role in a wrangle.
An experienced criminal defense lawyer will examine the facts, assess the credibility of the accuser, and identify inconsistencies in statements.
If there is proof that the claim was fake, it can strengthen the case in the court of law.
5. Mistaken Identity
In chaotic or fast-paced circumstances, there can be a misinterpretation of the accused. Your lawyer will be in a position to introduce evidence like surveillance video, alibi witnesses, or forensic examination, which could show that you are not the person who did the assault.
Importance of Having A Lawyer For Defenses To Assault Charges
Assault using a weapon charges are usually treated as felony charges and are accompanied by stiff penalties. Such cases need a strategic legal touch and state, and local laws.
A good assault with a weapon attorney will develop a good defense, deal with prosecutors, and take your case to the court if need be.
Defenses To Assault Charges: Each Case Is Different From Other
Every assault case is different, and the proper defense is dependent on the facts in each case. You can act in self-defense, can be framed, or the involved incident can be a misinterpretation. A learned assault with a weapon attorney is your best bet for getting a positive verdict.
Furthermore, top defenses to assault charges are meant to protect from greater harm. Also, the nature of the defense to assault charges for business owners will depend on the nature of the case. It will also depend on the jurisdiction.
So, seek professional legal help to understand the scope of the protection and how it can be established.
Conclusion
Business owners can always fall into trouble for using weapons that they possess for self-defence.
While possessing weapons can help people with wealth protect themselves from unprecedented threats, it can be difficult to prove it in court.
In such a scenario, it is better for them to make sure that they take help from proper legal aid.
Having proper legal aid helps in the collection odf proper pieces of evidence and arranging them in order, which can be later beneficial for the victim.
Owners of weapons must use them responsibly, as it is important.
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