18 USC 922(g)

A summary of federal firearm laws

September 26, 2011
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A person who possesses a gun can be charged with a crime if he is disqualified from legally possessing the weapon. The charge can be based on state law where the gun is possessed within the boundaries of a state. Or the charge can be based on federal law whenever the gun travels interstate. Federal [...]

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Possession of a firearm by convicted felon: federal offense

December 15, 2010
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A charge in federal court for possessing  a firearm as a convicted felon carries extremely severe penalties. It does not matter that the firearm was unloaded. Nor does it matter that the weapon was never discharged. In fact, the firearm itself may not be operable. Nonetheless, a person can be found guilty of this crime [...]

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Federal court jurisdiction over criminal conduct

December 2, 2010
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Many people believe that crossing state lines is what determines whether conduct can result in federal criminal charges. However, the issue of federal jurisdiction is more complicated than that. Activity that occurs in one state can be subject to federal prosecution. Understanding federal criminal jurisdiction requires a look back at history. The United States is [...]

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Definition of firearm under federal law

November 30, 2010
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Possession of a firearm without a license or permit can be a criminal offense under state law. A violation of state firearms law may result in probation and forfeiture of the weapon. For example, in Illinois, possession of a firearm without a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) Card is a Class 4 felony offense called aggravated [...]

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