Illegal Firearm Possession

The offense of possessing a firearm in violation of an applicable law, most commonly because the possessor is legally prohibited from owning a firearm at all, such as a person with a qualifying prior felony conviction, or because the firearm itself is unregistered, has had its serial number removed or altered, or is a category of weapon restricted or banned outright under the law of the jurisdiction. Illegal possession is among the most frequently charged firearm offenses in the United States federal system under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g), the felon-in-possession statute, which bars a person with a qualifying conviction or other disqualifying status from possessing a firearm shipped or transported in interstate commerce. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and organizations including the Small Arms Survey document illegal firearm possession as a significant global public safety concern, particularly in countries with a substantial gap between the number of firearms in civilian hands and the number lawfully registered.