TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 44 - FIREARMS
HEAD
Sec. 924. Penalties
STATUTE
(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection,
subsection (b), (c), (f), or (p) of this section, or in section
929, whoever -
(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), (d), (g), (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.
(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 second or subsequent conviction under this
subsection, 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, 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; and
(F) any offense which may be prosecuted in a court of the
United States which involves the exportation of firearms or
ammunition.
(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 transfers a firearm, knowing that such
firearm will be used to commit a crime of violence (as defined in
subsection (c)(3)) or drug trafficking crime (as defined in
subsection (c)(2)) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years,
fined in accordance with this title, 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) A person who, with intent to engage in or to promote conduct
that -
(1) 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;
(2) violates any law of a State relating to any controlled
substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances
Act, 21 U.S.C. 802); or
(3) constitutes a crime of violence (as defined in subsection
(c)(3)),
smuggles or knowingly brings into the United States a firearm, or
attempts to do so, shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years,
fined under this title, 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.
SOURCE
(Added Pub. L. 90-351, title IV, Sec. 902, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat.
233; amended Pub. L. 90-618, title I, Sec. 102, Oct. 22, 1968, 82
Stat. 1223; Pub. L. 91-644, title II, Sec. 13, Jan. 2, 1971, 84
Stat. 1889; Pub. L. 98-473, title II, Secs. 223(a), 1005(a), Oct.
12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2028, 2138; Pub. L. 99-308, Sec. 104(a), May 19,
1986, 100 Stat. 456; Pub. L. 99-514, Sec. 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100
Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 99-570, title I, Sec. 1402, Oct. 27, 1986, 100
Stat. 3207-39; Pub. L. 100-649, Sec. 2(b), (f)(2)(B), (D), Nov. 10,
1988, 102 Stat. 3817, 3818; Pub. L. 100-690, title VI, Secs. 6211,
6212, 6451, 6460, 6462, title VII, Secs. 7056, 7060(a), Nov. 18,
1988, 102 Stat. 4359, 4360, 4371, 4373, 4374, 4402, 4403; Pub. L.
101-647, title XI, Sec. 1101, title XVII, Sec. 1702(b)(3), title
XXII, Secs. 2203(d), 2204(c), title XXXV, Secs. 3526-3529, Nov. 29,
1990, 104 Stat. 4829, 4845, 4857, 4924; Pub. L. 103-159, title I,
Sec. 102(c), title III, Sec. 302(d), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1541,
1545; Pub. L. 103-322, title VI, Sec. 60013, title XI, Secs.
110102(c), 110103(c), 110105(2), 110201(b), 110401(e), 110503,
110504(a), 110507, 110510, 110515(a), 110517, 110518(a), title
XXXIII, Secs. 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, Sec. 603(m)(1), (n)-(p)(1), (q)-(s), Oct. 11, 1996,
110 Stat. 3505; Pub. L. 105-386, Sec. 1(a), Nov. 13, 1998, 112
Stat. 3469; Pub. L. 107-273, div. B, title IV, Sec. 4002(d)(1)(E),
div. C, title I, Sec. 11009(e)(3), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1809,
1821; Pub. L. 108-174, Sec. 1(2), (3), Dec. 9, 2003, 117 Stat.
2481; Pub. L. 109-92, Secs. 5(c)(2), 6(b), Oct. 26, 2005, 119 Stat.
2100, 2102; Pub. L. 109-304, Sec. 17(d)(3), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat.
1707.)
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