Call Now

Call Now

Call Now

Blog

A gun that can no longer shoot is still a gun for purposes of a felony illegally possessing this firearm.

It is generally common knowledge that a person who has been convicted of a felony, even if remote in time, is no longer permitted to possession (purchase, possess, handle), a firearm.1 Possession has two (2) possible variables: actual possession, and constructive possession.

Active or actual possession occurs when a person is physically in control of a firearm, such as when it is being held by him or stuck in the waistband. Constructive possession is when a person is within the vicinity of a firearm which they could obtain active possession of in short order. For example, a felon is visiting a friend’s house, and the friend has an unlocked loaded shot gun behind his bedroom door; in theory, that felon has constructive possession if he is in the home and anywhere in the vicinity of the unsecured weapon, although the felon would have to know the firearm was there.

A recent Federal 7th Circuit Court of Appeals case addressed the question of what is a “firearm” for purposes of prosecuting a felon for being in possession of a firearm? In United States of America v. Dotson2, defendant, a convicted felon, used a firearm that was so damaged and corroded that it was inoperable, but he used it during the commission of a crime.

The defendant presented the argument that because the firearm was so significantly damaged, had missing and broken parts, and had extensive corrosion, such that an expert would only be able to make it operable – after considerable hours of extensive repair – that the firearm was no longer a firearm under the definition; and thus, he was not in possession of a firearm. The state essentially proposed the argument that once a firearm is always a firearm for purposes of the federal (and several states) statute.

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals took a middle ground approach, finding that either argument or position was extreme. The 7th Circuit considered the dividing line as whether the object had been altered, or the design had been altered, to determine whether the once firearm is still a firearm for purposes of the statute. This is a crucial case in firearms’ law.

In this case, defendant’s firearm was altered due to dilapidated conditions, such that it was inoperable, and thus, the 7th Circuit considered that the object was altered. However, the design, meaning what the object was designed to do (shoot), was not altered. Thus, the firearm used by the defendant, while unable to shoot a projectile, but was nonetheless a firearm under the statute. Thus, careful and strict compliance with the law is critical.

We hope that this blog post has been helpful in understanding what is considered a firearm for purposes of prosecution under the felon in possession statute. Ciyou & Dixon, P.C. practices throughout the state of Indiana. This blog post was written by attorney, Lori Schmeltzer.


  1. 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
  2. United States of America v. Dotson, 12-2945, 2013 WL 1339029 (7th Cir. Apr. 4, 2013) .
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Email

We Listen & Care

Proven & experienced attorneys successfully advocating & resolving complex cases for over 25 years

Quick Contact

Need to talk now? Fill out the quick form below and we will contact you directly.
Blog Categories

Get In Touch

We're available to answer your questions 24/7.

Contact Us

Please fill out the form below and we will be in touch with you shortly.

Dixon & Moseley, P.C., is a law firm located in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve clients in six core practice areas: family lawappellate practicefirearms lawgeneral practicepersonal injury and criminal law.

Copyright © 2024 Ciyou & Dixon, P.C., Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. This Site does not provide legal advice; please review the disclaimer for other limitations. Privacy Policy

Based in Indianapolis and founded in 1995, Dixon & Moseley, P.C. is a niche law firm focused on successfully dealing with the complexities of divorce, high-conflict child custody and family law. Known for their ability to solve extremely complex situations with high quality work and responsiveness, Dixon & Moseley, P.C. will guide you every step of the way. The family law attorneys at Dixon & Moseley, P.C. will help you precisely identify your objectives and the means to reach your desired result. Life is uncertain. Be certain of your counsel. Indianapolis Divorce Attorneys, Dixon & Moseley, P.C.

Indianapolis Divorce Attorneys, Dixon & Moseley, P.C. of Indianapolis, Indiana, offers legal services for Indianapolis, Zionsville, Noblesville, Carmel, Avon, Anderson, Danville, Greenwood, Brownsburg, Geist, Fortville, McCordsville, Muncie, Greenfield, Westfield, Fort Wayne, Fishers, Bloomington, Lafayette, Marion County, Hamilton County, Hendricks County, Allen County, Delaware County, Morgan County, Hendricks County, Boone County, Vigo County, Johnson County, Hancock County, and Tippecanoe County, Indiana.