18 USC 924 - Penalties

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 23, 2024

§ 924.

Penalties

(a)

(1)

(A)

knowingly makes any false statement or representation with respect to the information required by this chapter to be kept in the records of a person licensed under this chapter or in applying for any license or exemption or relief from disability under the provisions of this chapter;

(B)

knowingly violates subsection (a)(4), (f), (k), or (q) of section 922;

(C)

knowingly imports or brings into the United States or any possession thereof any firearm or ammunition in violation of section 922(l); or

(D)

willfully violates any other provision of this chapter,

shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(2)

Whoever knowingly violates subsection (a)(6), (h), (i), (j), or (o) of section 922 shall be fined as provided in this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

(3)

Any licensed dealer, licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed collector who knowingly—

(A)

makes any false statement or representation with respect to the information required by the provisions of this chapter to be kept in the records of a person licensed under this chapter, or

(B)

violates subsection (m) of section 922,

shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(4)

Whoever violates section 922(q) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the term of imprisonment imposed under this paragraph shall not run concurrently with any other term of imprisonment imposed under any other provision of law. Except for the authorization of a term of imprisonment of not more than 5 years made in this paragraph, for the purpose of any other law a violation of section 922(q) shall be deemed to be a misdemeanor.

(5)

Whoever knowingly violates subsection (s) or (t) of section 922 shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both.

(6)

(A)

(i)

A juvenile who violates section 922(x) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both, except that a juvenile described in clause (ii) shall be sentenced to probation on appropriate conditions and shall not be incarcerated unless the juvenile fails to comply with a condition of probation.

(ii)

A juvenile is described in this clause if—

(I)

the offense of which the juvenile is charged is possession of a handgun or ammunition in violation of section 922(x)(2); and

(II)

the juvenile has not been convicted in any court of an offense (including an offense under section 922(x) or a similar State law, but not including any other offense consisting of conduct that if engaged in by an adult would not constitute an offense) or adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent for conduct that if engaged in by an adult would constitute an offense.

(B)

A person other than a juvenile who knowingly violates section 922(x)—

(i)

shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both; and

(ii)

if the person sold, delivered, or otherwise transferred a handgun or ammunition to a juvenile knowing or having reasonable cause to know that the juvenile intended to carry or otherwise possess or discharge or otherwise use the handgun or ammunition in the commission of a crime of violence, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

(7)

Whoever knowingly violates section 931 shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both.

(8)

Whoever knowingly violates subsection (d) or (g) of section 922 shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both.

(b)

Whoever, with intent to commit therewith an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, or with knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year is to be committed therewith, ships, transports, or receives a firearm or any ammunition in interstate or foreign commerce shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

(c)

(1)

(A)

Except to the extent that a greater minimum sentence is otherwise provided by this subsection or by any other provision of law, any person who, during and in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking crime (including a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime that provides for an enhanced punishment if committed by the use of a deadly or dangerous weapon or device) for which the person may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, uses or carries a firearm, or who, in furtherance of any such crime, possesses a firearm, shall, in addition to the punishment provided for such crime of violence or drug trafficking crime—

(i)

be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 5 years;

(ii)

if the firearm is brandished, be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 7 years; and

(iii)

if the firearm is discharged, be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years.

(B)

If the firearm possessed by a person convicted of a violation of this subsection—

(i)

is a short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or semiautomatic assault weapon, the person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years; or

(ii)

is a machinegun or a destructive device, or is equipped with a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, the person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 30 years.

(C)

In the case of a violation of this subsection that occurs after a prior conviction under this subsection has become final, the person shall—

(i)

be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 25 years; and

(ii)

if the firearm involved is a machinegun or a destructive device, or is equipped with a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, be sentenced to imprisonment for life.

(D)

Notwithstanding any other provision of law—

(i)

a court shall not place on probation any person convicted of a violation of this subsection; and

(ii)

no term of imprisonment imposed on a person under this subsection shall run concurrently with any other term of imprisonment imposed on the person, including any term of imprisonment imposed for the crime of violence or drug trafficking crime during which the firearm was used, carried, or possessed.

(2)

For purposes of this subsection, the term “drug trafficking crime” means any felony punishable under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.), or chapter 705 of title 46.

(3)

For purposes of this subsection the term “crime of violence” means an offense that is a felony and—

(A)

has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or

(B)

that by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.

(4)

For purposes of this subsection, the term “brandish” means, with respect to a firearm, to display all or part of the firearm, or otherwise make the presence of the firearm known to another person, in order to intimidate that person, regardless of whether the firearm is directly visible to that person.

(5)

Except to the extent that a greater minimum sentence is otherwise provided under this subsection, or by any other provision of law, any person who, during and in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking crime (including a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime that provides for an enhanced punishment if committed by the use of a deadly or dangerous weapon or device) for which the person may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, uses or carries armor piercing ammunition, or who, in furtherance of any such crime, possesses armor piercing ammunition, shall, in addition to the punishment provided for such crime of violence or drug trafficking crime or conviction under this section—

(A)

be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years; and

(B)

if death results from the use of such ammunition—

(i)

if the killing is murder (as defined in section 1111), be punished by death or sentenced to a term of imprisonment for any term of years or for life; and

(ii)

if the killing is manslaughter (as defined in section 1112), be punished as provided in section 1112.

(d)

(1)

Any firearm or ammunition involved in or used in any knowing violation of subsection (a)(4), (a)(6), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), or (k) of section 922, or knowing importation or bringing into the United States or any possession thereof any firearm or ammunition in violation of section 922(l), or knowing violation of section 924, 932, or 933, or willful violation of any other provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, or any violation of any other criminal law of the United States, or any firearm or ammunition intended to be used in any offense referred to in paragraph (3) of this subsection, where such intent is demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence, shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture, and all provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 relating to the seizure, forfeiture, and disposition of firearms, as defined in section 5845(a) of that Code, shall, so far as applicable, extend to seizures and forfeitures under the provisions of this chapter: Provided, That upon acquittal of the owner or possessor, or dismissal of the charges against him other than upon motion of the Government prior to trial, or lapse of or court termination of the restraining order to which he is subject, the seized or relinquished firearms or ammunition shall be returned forthwith to the owner or possessor or to a person delegated by the owner or possessor unless the return of the firearms or ammunition would place the owner or possessor or his delegate in violation of law. Any action or proceeding for the forfeiture of firearms or ammunition shall be commenced within one hundred and twenty days of such seizure.

(2)

(A)

In any action or proceeding for the return of firearms or ammunition seized under the provisions of this chapter, the court shall allow the prevailing party, other than the United States, a reasonable attorney’s fee, and the United States shall be liable therefor.

(B)

In any other action or proceeding under the provisions of this chapter, the court, when it finds that such action was without foundation, or was initiated vexatiously, frivolously, or in bad faith, shall allow the prevailing party, other than the United States, a reasonable attorney’s fee, and the United States shall be liable therefor.

(C)

Only those firearms or quantities of ammunition particularly named and individually identified as involved in or used in any violation of the provisions of this chapter or any rule or regulation issued thereunder, or any other criminal law of the United States or as intended to be used in any offense referred to in paragraph (3) of this subsection, where such intent is demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence, shall be subject to seizure, forfeiture, and disposition.

(D)

The United States shall be liable for attorneys’ fees under this paragraph only to the extent provided in advance by appropriation Acts.

(3)

The offenses referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2)(C) of this subsection are—

(A)

any crime of violence, as that term is defined in section 924(c)(3) of this title;

(B)

any offense punishable under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) or the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.);

(C)

any offense described in section 922(a)(1), 922(a)(3), 922(a)(5), or 922(b)(3) of this title, where the firearm or ammunition intended to be used in any such offense is involved in a pattern of activities which includes a violation of any offense described in section 922(a)(1), 922(a)(3), 922(a)(5), or 922(b)(3) of this title;

(D)

any offense described in section 922(d) of this title where the firearm or ammunition is intended to be used in such offense by the transferor of such firearm or ammunition;

(E)

any offense described in section 922(i), 922(j), 922(l), 922(n), or 924(b) of this title;

(F)

any offense which may be prosecuted in a court of the United States which involves the exportation of firearms or ammunition; and

(G)

any offense under section 932 or 933.

(e)

(1)

In the case of a person who violates section 922(g) of this title and has three previous convictions by any court referred to in section 922(g)(1) of this title for a violent felony or a serious drug offense, or both, committed on occasions different from one another, such person shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not less than fifteen years, and, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court shall not suspend the sentence of, or grant a probationary sentence to, such person with respect to the conviction under section 922(g).

(2)

As used in this subsection—

(A)

the term “serious drug offense” means—

(i)

an offense under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.), or chapter 705 of title 46 for which a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years or more is prescribed by law; or

(ii)

an offense under State law, involving manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture or distribute, a controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)), for which a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years or more is prescribed by law;

(B)

the term “violent felony” means any crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, or any act of juvenile delinquency involving the use or carrying of a firearm, knife, or destructive device that would be punishable by imprisonment for such term if committed by an adult, that—

(i)

has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another; or

(ii)

is burglary, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another; and

(C)

the term “conviction” includes a finding that a person has committed an act of juvenile delinquency involving a violent felony.

(f)

In the case of a person who knowingly violates section 922(p), such person shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

(g)

Whoever, with the intent to engage in conduct which—

(1)

constitutes an offense listed in section 1961(1),

(2)

is punishable under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.), or chapter 705 of title 46,

(3)

violates any State law relating to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102(6) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(6))), or

(4)

constitutes a crime of violence (as defined in subsection (c)(3)),

travels from any State or foreign country into any other State and acquires, transfers, or attempts to acquire or transfer, a firearm in such other State in furtherance of such purpose, shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both.

(h)

Whoever knowingly receives or transfers a firearm or ammunition, or attempts or conspires to do so, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such firearm or ammunition will be used to commit a felony, a Federal crime of terrorism, or a drug trafficking crime (as such terms are defined in section 932(a)), or a crime under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4801 et seq.), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), or the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both.

(i)

(1)

A person who knowingly violates section 922(u) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

(2)

Nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed as indicating an intent on the part of Congress to occupy the field in which provisions of this subsection operate to the exclusion of State laws on the same subject matter, nor shall any provision of this subsection be construed as invalidating any provision of State law unless such provision is inconsistent with any of the purposes of this subsection.

(j)

A person who, in the course of a violation of subsection (c), causes the death of a person through the use of a firearm, shall—

(1)

if the killing is a murder (as defined in section 1111), be punished by death or by imprisonment for any term of years or for life; and

(2)

if the killing is manslaughter (as defined in section 1112), be punished as provided in that section.

(k)

(1)

A person who smuggles or knowingly brings into the United States a firearm or ammunition, or attempts or conspires to do so, with intent to engage in or to promote conduct that—

(A)

is punishable under the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.), or chapter 705 of title 46; or

(B)

constitutes a felony, a Federal crime of terrorism, or a drug trafficking crime (as such terms are defined in section 932(a)),

shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both.

(2)

A person who smuggles or knowingly takes out of the United States a firearm or ammunition, or attempts or conspires to do so, with intent to engage in or to promote conduct that—

(A)

would be punishable under the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.), or chapter 705 of title 46, if the conduct had occurred within the United States; or

(B)

would constitute a felony or a Federal crime of terrorism (as such terms are defined in section 932(a)) for which the person may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, if the conduct had occurred within the United States,

shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both.

(l)

A person who steals any firearm which is moving as, or is a part of, or which has moved in, interstate or foreign commerce shall be imprisoned for not more than 10 years, fined under this title, or both.

(m)

A person who steals any firearm from a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

(n)

A person who, with the intent to engage in conduct that constitutes a violation of section 922(a)(1)(A), travels from any State or foreign country into any other State and acquires, or attempts to acquire, a firearm in such other State in furtherance of such purpose shall be imprisoned for not more than 10 years.

(o)

A person who conspires to commit an offense under subsection (c) shall be imprisoned for not more than 20 years, fined under this title, or both; and if the firearm is a machinegun or destructive device, or is equipped with a firearm silencer or muffler, shall be imprisoned for any term of years or life.

(p)

Penalties Relating To Secure Gun Storage or Safety Device.—

(1)

In general.—

(A)

Suspension or revocation of license; civil penalties.—

With respect to each violation of section 922(z)(1) by a licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer, the Secretary may, after notice and opportunity for hearing—

(i)

suspend for not more than 6 months, or revoke, the license issued to the licensee under this chapter that was used to conduct the firearms transfer; or

(ii)

subject the licensee to a civil penalty in an amount equal to not more than $2,500.

(B)

Review.—

An action of the Secretary under this paragraph may be reviewed only as provided under section 923(f).

(2)

Administrative remedies.—

The suspension or revocation of a license or the imposition of a civil penalty under paragraph (1) shall not preclude any administrative remedy that is otherwise available to the Secretary.

(Added Pub. L. 90–351, title IV, § 902, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 233; amended Pub. L. 90–618, title I, § 102, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1223; Pub. L. 91–644, title II, § 13, Jan. 2, 1971, 84 Stat. 1889; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §§ 223(a), 1005(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2028, 2138; Pub. L. 99–308, § 104(a), May 19, 1986, 100 Stat. 456; Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 99–570, title I, § 1402, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–39; Pub. L. 100–649, § 2(b), (f)(2)(B), (D), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3817, 3818; Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, §§ 6211, 6212, 6451, 6460, 6462, title VII, §§ 7056, 7060(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4359, 4360, 4371, 4373, 4374, 4402, 4403; Pub. L. 101–647, title XI, § 1101, title XVII, § 1702(b)(3), title XXII, §§ 2203(d), 2204(c), title XXXV, §§ 3526–3529, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4829, 4845, 4857, 4924; Pub. L. 103–159, title I, § 102(c), title III, § 302(d), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1541, 1545; Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, § 60013, title XI, §§ 110102(c), 110103(c), 110105(2), 110201(b), 110401(e), 110503, 110504(a), 110507, 110510, 110515(a), 110517, 110518(a), title XXXIII, §§ 330002(h), 330003(f)(2), 330011(i), (j), 330016(1)(H), (K), (L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1973, 1998–2000, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018–2020, 2140, 2141, 2145, 2147; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 603(m)(1), (n)–(p)(1), (q)–(s), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3505; Pub. L. 105–386, § 1(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3469; Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, § 4002(d)(1)(E), div. C, title I, § 11009(e)(3), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1809, 1821; Pub. L. 108–174, § 1(2), (3), Dec. 9, 2003, 117 Stat. 2481; Pub. L. 109–92, §§ 5(c)(2), 6(b), Oct. 26, 2005, 119 Stat. 2100, 2102; Pub. L. 109–304, § 17(d)(3), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1707; Pub. L. 115–391, title IV, § 403(a), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5221; Pub. L. 117–159, div. A, title II, § 12004(c)–(f), June 25, 2022, 136 Stat. 1329, 1330.)

cite as: 18 USC 924