The penalties for carrying a firearm without a permit/license varies widely across all the US States. Penalties for felons convicted of illegal possession of a firearm range from misdemeanors to felonies with a mandatory minimum sentence. The penalties for persons with no felony convictions who are convicted of unlicensed carry are generally lower but can still be severe in some states and also range from misdemeanors, felonies, and mandatory imprisonment. Illegal firearm possession laws generally but not always categorize offenders into three classes with penalties increasing depending on the class. The three classes are;
Minimum Age
A person under the minimum age is usually treated more leniantly
No Felony Convictions
A person with no felony convictions will receive a middle range penalty
With Felony Convictions
With felony convictions the penalties get tougher
WARNING
The following states have a mandatory sentence of imprisonment for unlicensed carrying of a firearm outside a home or business - click this box to see states
Mandatory Prison Sentences
New York - 3.5 years
Massachusetts - 18 months
The following list describes the general criminal penalties for failure to comply with permit requirements. The penalties apply to a person without any felony convictions. This is not a full list and there are many more states with criminal penalties for carrying a gun without a permit.
No Felony Convictions
| State | Class of Crime | Punishment | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Purchase handgun without safety certificate: misdemeanor | punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both | Cal. Penal Code § 31615 |
| Connecticut | Purchase or receive handgun without permit or eligibility certificate: class D felony | punishable by one to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000, or both | CGS § 29-33 |
| D.C. | Possess without registration certificate | Up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both | D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2502.01, 7-2507.06 |
| Hawaii | Acquire firearm without a permit: misdemeanor | punishable by up to one year's imprisonment, a fine of up to $2,000, or both | Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 134-2, 134-3, 134-17 |
| Failing to register firearm: petty misdemeanor | punishable by up to 30 days imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both | ||
| Illinois | If person possesses or acquires handgun and the person's Firearm Owner's Identification Card is expired but the person is not otherwise disqualified from renewing it: class A misdemeanor | punishable by less than one year's imprisonment, a fine of up to $2,500, or both | 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. 65/2, 65/14 |
| If the person does not possess a valid ID card (other than an expired one as specified above), but is otherwise eligible: first offense is a class A misdemeanor (see above). Subsequent offense is a class 4 felony | punishable by one to three years imprisonment, a fine of up to $25,000, or both | ||
| If (1) the person's ID card has been revoked or is subject to revocation, (2) the card is expired and not eligible for renewal, or (3) the person does not possess a valid card and is not otherwise eligible, the penalty is a class 3 felony | punishable by two to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $25,000, or both | ||
| Iowa | Acquire handgun without a permit: aggravated misdemeanor | punishable by up to two years imprisonment, a fine of $625 to $6,250, or both | Iowa Code § 724.16 |
| Massachusetts | Possess without license: first offense: | up to two years in prison or jail, a fine of up to $500, or both | Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 140, § 129C; ch. 269, § 10 |
| Subsequent offense: | up to two years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both | ||
| Possess without license outside of home or place of business | from 2.5 to five years imprisonment, or 18 months to 2.5 years in jail; with a mandatory minimum of 18 months | ||
| Michigan | Obtain without permit: misdemeanor | punishable by up to 90 days imprisonment, a fine of up to $100, or both | Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. §§ 28.422, 750.232a |
| Minnesota | Acquire without permit: gross misdemeanor | punishable by up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $3,000, or both | Minn. Stat. § 624.7132 |
| Nebraska | Purchase without certificate: class I misdemeanor | punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both | Neb. Rev. St. §§ 69-2403, 69-2408 |
| New Jersey | Possess without permit: 3rd degree crime | punishable by three to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both (can be 2nd degree crime if gun meets certain specifications) | N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 2C:39-5, 2C:58-4 |
| New York | Possess without permit: class A misdemeanor | punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both | N.Y. Penal Law §§ 265.01, 265.03, 265.20 |
| Possess loaded firearm without permit, outside of person's home or place of business: class C felony, classified as violent felony offense | punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of 3.5 years | ||
| North Carolina | Purchase or receive without permit: Class 2 misdemeanor | punishable by up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-402 |
| Rhode Island | Purchase without safety certificate | Up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both | R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-47-26, 11-47-35 |
Comments
I live in virginia and i owned a pistol bought it registered it in my name and all that but i traveled to Chicago and got out my car and walked down the road and a cop rolled up and started questioning me and yes i told him i have a gun it was concealed and i dont have conceal permit but my record is clean they are trying to charge me with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon without a foid and misdemeanor ammo in my pocket to but my record is clean what do u think will happen to me they also lost body cams for arrest
My boyfriend was driving through OH from WY to PA. He was moving to PA with me. He was pulled over for following too close, which is incorrect, and after being followed. He had to get out of the truck to get into the back for registration. The officer seen a butt of a 22 long rifle and arrested him for concealed carry, and he had bullets in the tube not barrel. The are wanting him to take felony charges. If he’s passing through he can’t get a concealed carry permit. WY doesn’t have them or atleast didn’t when he moved. How can this be legal? Where’s his 2nd amendment right? How can this be fought?
What is the most likely outcome if a person convicted of possession of controlled substance , which makes him a felon is charge with unlawful possession a firearm class d felony first offense in missouri
What if you got unlawful possession of a firearm because you get possession of a controlled substance that a class d felony in and it’s your first time in Missouri .still no letter for say when my court date is
What about unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of a weapon in Tennessee, first offense if convicted?
Upstate NY CCW holder for many years and have family in long Island Counties,is there a legal way to transport in my vehicle through Bronx and Queen’s ?
Why haven’t Florida been added to this list??i live in Florida and need to update my knowledge of Florida laws in many different law aspects
I am a non violent felon who lives in Mid Missouri, I know that the latest attempt to allow felons to receive there gun rights back was axed. I feel I was lumped into a group that obviously doesn’t deserve to have those rights back. I know once a felon always a felon right, well have you ever drank and drove? That’s mine, all I am saying is I, I served my time successfully completed any and all sentencing, I should have my rights restored. It is my constitutional right is it not, The Federal and state Regulation conflict with each other, what do I need to do to be a legal gun holder? I would like to hunt and legally protect my home. Thanks for any help
Make sure you get a brain. In the next life. In this life, you’re hosed
Quick draw Mcfool I don’t Know where you’re from from but in this country people with non-violent felonies should be able to protect protect themselves and their home if you can help someone or say something positive abiding by the Constitution of the United States of America if you have nothing positive to add keep your f****** mouth shut
Move to Yemen. I hear they all carry over there.
From my understanding. Felons lose all there rights. As far as protecting your home do what you could afford.
There is no board of pardons in your state?
Yes it’s your second amendment right. I would speak to an attorney.
I will have a Non-Res. VA. CCW & a Res. NV. CCW, Where am I not covered?
Wow, lots of infringement going on in those states. I wonder if they understand what “shall not be infringed “ means? Nah… of course they don’t
I live in AZ and I can go to a gun store or on line an buy a gun with out any kind of permit other then a background ck. I can open carry or conceal carry without a permit
i have a north Carolina conceal permit what state will recognize my permit
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming