Weapons Offenses Statute of Limitations

What are the Federal Weapons Offenses in the United States?

The top federal weapons offenses include:

1. Illegal possession of a firearm: This includes possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm with an altered serial number.

2. Unlawful sale or transfer of a firearm: This includes selling or transferring a firearm to a prohibited person, such as a convicted felon or a person under indictment for a crime punishable by more than one year in prison.

3. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime: This includes using a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking crime or carrying a firearm while committing a drug trafficking crime.

4. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence: This includes using a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence or carrying a firearm while committing a crime of violence.

5. Possession of a firearm by a prohibited person: This includes possession of a firearm by a person who is prohibited by law from possessing firearms, such as convicted felons, fugitives, domestic abusers, and individuals with restraining orders.

6. Possession of a firearm in a federal facility: This includes possession of a firearm in a federal building, courthouses, and other federal property.

7. Possession of a machine gun: This includes possession of a machine gun, sawed-off shotgun, or silencer that is not registered to the possessor in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

Penalties for federal weapons offenses can vary depending on the specific offense, the offender's criminal history and the specific circumstances of the case. Penalties can range from fines and probation to imprisonment and forfeiture of the firearms.