Firearm Offenses Blog Archives

Can You Be Charged With a Federal Gun Crime for a Weapon You Didn’t Know Was Illegal?

Yes. Federal prosecutors may charge a person even when that person did not know federal law restricted the firearm. A conviction still requires proof of every element in the specific statute, including any required mental state. The law can treat knowledge of possession, knowledge of a firearm’s features, knowledge of a prohibited status, and knowledge…