DC Gun Penalties

There is a range of DC gun penalties that are often dependent on the specific charge the accused is facing. Some of the most common gun laws include carrying a pistol outside of a home or place of business and possession of an unregistered firearm. It could be critical to learn more about the consequences you face by speaking with a driven firearm attorney.

Penalties for Misdemeanor vs. Felony Gun Charges

Misdemeanor gun possession cases do not carry a mandatory minimum penalty. The two misdemeanor gun related possession charges, possession of an unregistered firearm and an unlawful possession of ammunition carry a maximum one-year penalty; but there is no mandatory minimum.

The felony charge of carrying a pistol is a more serious offense with a maximum five years of prison time. This is the legal maximum and does not necessarily mean that a person faces the maximum penalty. It gives someone an idea as to the differences in severity between those two gun laws. The maximum gun penalties in DC depend on the incident the accused was allegedly involved in. For unlawful possession of ammunition or possession of an unregistered firearm, the maximum penalty for each is one year of jail time, a maximum fine of $2,500, or both.

Does the Maximum Differ for Felonious Crimes?

For the felony charge of carrying a pistol, the maximum penalty is five years of prison time; the maximum fine is $12,500, or both. For the felony offense of possession of a firearm by a person with a prior felony conviction, the maximum penalty is ten years of prison time, a maximum fine of $25,000, or both.

What are the Mandatory Minimums in DC Gun Cases?

In DC, there is no mandatory minimum penalties for unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of an unregistered firearm, and carrying a pistol without a license. Those offenses carry no mandatory minimum penalty.

However, there are firearm-related offenses that have mandatory minimums. The mandatory minimum penalty for unlawfully possessing a firearm by a person with a prior felony conviction is a minimum of one year of prison time.

Mandatory Minimums for those With a Criminal History

For someone with a prior felony conviction on their record who is found to be in possession of a firearm in any place and convicted of that charge, a judge is required under law to sentence that person at a minimum one year in prison and up to ten years in prison.

Those mandatory minimums can also increase depending on the type of prior felony conviction the person has. A more serious prior felony conviction could find a person facing mandatory minimum penalty even more than one year.

Impact of a Prior Conviction on DC Gun Penalties

Some of the more severe gun possession felonies can include the possession of a firearm by a person who was previously convicted of a felony. That is a felony offense that carries a maximum ten-year prison sentence and also carries a mandatory minimum one-year prison sentence. If a prior felony conviction is considered to be a crime of violence such as burglary or felony sexual assault. That person could face DC gun penalties with the mandatory minimum of up to three years of prison time. If a person is in possession of a firearm during a crime of violence or a dangerous crime, as defined under DC law, that person also faces a mandatory minimum five-year prison sentence.