It’s not always illegal to carry and use a weapon, such as a gun or knife, but there are times when this can lead to serious trouble with the law.
For example, if you have a license to own a firearm, there’s nothing wrong with doing so in a legal manner. Conversely, if you violate the law, such as by illegally selling firearms, it can result in serious criminal charges that will impact you for the rest of your life.
What is a federal weapons crime?
This crime takes on many forms, including but not limited to:
- Illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Illegal online sales of a firearm
- Illegal online purchase of a firearm
- Illegal sales of a firearm across state lines
- Illegal possession of a firearm related to other crimes, such as a drug offense
Even if you’re arrested for an unrelated crime, such as possession of drugs, it’s easy for the legal system to add on a federal weapons charge, which complicates your situation on many fronts.
Penalties for a federal weapons crime
It goes without saying that a conviction of any federal crime carries serious consequences. And this is definitely the case when it comes to federal weapons crimes.
Take, for example, a gun crime. Since there are many types of gun crimes, penalties vary from one to the next.
For example, using, possessing or carrying a gun in a drug trafficking crime carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Taking this to the next level, discharging a gun in a drug trafficking crime carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
There are even more serious gun crimes, such as possessing a machine gun or related destructive device in accordance with a crime. This carries a minimum sentence of 30 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
With such harsh penalties, you must take action if you’re charged with a federal weapons crime. The steps you take to defend yourself will determine your punishment and the impact it has on your life.