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 |
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… Read more »
Make sure you get a brain. In the next life. In this life, you’re hosed
Move to Yemen. I hear they all carry over there.
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