Offence typesFY2018–FY2025
Firearms
Primary offence type · Commission code 13 · 12.6% of federal cases
The datafile contains cases reported to the Commission with sentencing documents. Sentence length statistics use the Commission's capped variable (sentences of 470 months or longer, including life, are recorded as 470 months) and exclude sentences of probation or a fine only. Figures are aggregates of past cases and are not a prediction for any case.
§ 1Length of prison terms, all districts
Interquartile range 24–68 months; mean 53. 24 cases at the 470-month cap (life or longer).
§ 2Summary
Firearms was the primary offence type in 66,005 federal cases sentenced across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), 12.6% of all cases reported to the Commission, with 8,041 in FY2025.
The national median prison term for firearms offences was 41 months (3 yr 5 mo), against 24 months for all cases; 94% of cases carried a prison term and the middle half of terms fell between 24 and 68 months.
52% of sentences were within the guideline range, 17% below it on a government motion, 26% below it for other reasons and 6% above it.
The districts with the most firearms offences were the Eastern District of Missouri (3,264), the Western District of Texas (2,183) and the Northern District of Texas (2,020).
Caseload in FY2025 was about the same as in FY2018. The median prison term was about the same in FY2025 as in FY2018.
§ 3Position relative to the guideline range
Within guideline range 52%Above range 6%Below range, government sponsored 17%Below range, other 26%Not determinable 69
| Measure | Firearms | All offence types |
|---|---|---|
| Median prison months | 41 | 24 |
| Mean prison months | 53 | 51 |
| Cases with a prison term | 94% | 92% |
| Within guideline range | 52% | 47% |
| Above range | 6% | 3% |
| Below range, government sponsored | 17% | 29% |
| Below range, other | 26% | 21% |
| Median final offence level | 19 | 17 |
| Criminal history category I | 18% | 46% |
§ 4Districts compared
Every district with at least one case, most cases first. Districts with at least 30 cases in 2021–2025 link to a district × offence page; others link to the district's overview. Rows under 10 cases show the count only.
| District | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern District of Missouri E.D. Mo. | 3,264 | 96% | 37 | 48% | 22% | 26% |
| Western District of Texas W.D. Tex. | 2,183 | 94% | 37 | 69% | 10% | 19% |
| Northern District of Texas N.D. Tex. | 2,020 | 98% | 48 | 73% | 5% | 11% |
| Southern District of Texas S.D. Tex. | 1,859 | 95% | 30 | 55% | 14% | 27% |
| Western District of Missouri W.D. Mo. | 1,718 | 96% | 57 | 56% | 8% | 22% |
| Northern District of Ohio N.D. Ohio | 1,563 | 93% | 41 | 51% | 13% | 32% |
| Eastern District of North Carolina E.D.N.C. | 1,473 | 96% | 54 | 61% | 15% | 19% |
| Northern District of Alabama N.D. Ala. | 1,291 | 91% | 37 | 63% | 12% | 21% |
| Eastern District of Michigan E.D. Mich. | 1,284 | 95% | 36 | 38% | 8% | 53% |
| Eastern District of Arkansas E.D. Ark. | 1,283 | 95% | 57 | 61% | 7% | 21% |
| Southern District of Florida S.D. Fla. | 1,250 | 96% | 48 | 61% | 8% | 26% |
| District of South Carolina D.S.C. | 1,223 | 96% | 60 | 55% | 12% | 29% |
| District of Utah D. Utah | 1,204 | 88% | 29 | 27% | 53% | 17% |
| Middle District of Florida M.D. Fla. | 1,201 | 95% | 57 | 52% | 12% | 31% |
| District of Puerto Rico D.P.R. | 1,200 | 96% | 33 | 63% | 10% | 11% |
| Middle District of North Carolina M.D.N.C. | 1,135 | 93% | 60 | 59% | 7% | 22% |
| Western District of Tennessee W.D. Tenn. | 1,099 | 98% | 50 | 57% | 11% | 30% |
| District of Arizona D. Ariz. | 1,076 | 77% | 21 | 28% | 39% | 31% |
| Northern District of Illinois N.D. Ill. | 1,067 | 96% | 45 | 42% | 7% | 46% |
| Eastern District of Tennessee E.D. Tenn. | 1,042 | 97% | 48 | 63% | 22% | 11% |
| District of New Jersey D.N.J. | 982 | 96% | 48 | 46% | 32% | 20% |
| District of New Mexico D.N.M. | 967 | 97% | 37 | 47% | 29% | 21% |
| Southern District of Ohio S.D. Ohio | 957 | 91% | 30 | 34% | 37% | 26% |
| Eastern District of Texas E.D. Tex. | 939 | 96% | 46 | 73% | 12% | 7% |
| Northern District of Indiana N.D. Ind. | 917 | 88% | 38 | 54% | 14% | 28% |
| Southern District of New York S.D.N.Y. | 916 | 98% | 40 | 44% | 5% | 46% |
| Southern District of Indiana S.D. Ind. | 894 | 94% | 43 | 56% | 9% | 32% |
| Northern District of Iowa N.D. Iowa | 878 | 97% | 47 | 57% | 12% | 17% |
| Western District of North Carolina W.D.N.C. | 862 | 98% | 48 | 68% | 7% | 20% |
| Eastern District of Virginia E.D. Va. | 861 | 92% | 48 | 48% | 11% | 36% |
| District of Maryland D. Md. | 859 | 98% | 48 | 38% | 37% | 16% |
| Central District of California C.D. Cal. | 803 | 93% | 33 | 33% | 19% | 46% |
| Southern District of Iowa S.D. Iowa | 793 | 96% | 54 | 48% | 14% | 33% |
| Western District of Oklahoma W.D. Okla. | 778 | 95% | 60 | 56% | 4% | 27% |
| Middle District of Tennessee M.D. Tenn. | 753 | 95% | 48 | 24% | 41% | 31% |
| Southern District of Georgia S.D. Ga. | 730 | 97% | 51 | 81% | 8% | 10% |
| Southern District of Alabama S.D. Ala. | 715 | 96% | 36 | 71% | 5% | 22% |
| District of Colorado D. Colo. | 710 | 95% | 41 | 49% | 19% | 29% |
| Northern District of California N.D. Cal. | 699 | 93% | 30 | 31% | 22% | 46% |
| District of Nevada D. Nev. | 670 | 90% | 30 | 30% | 40% | 28% |
| Southern District of Mississippi S.D. Miss. | 666 | 97% | 45 | 75% | 4% | 14% |
| District of Montana D. Mont. | 661 | 88% | 28 | 49% | 11% | 39% |
| District of Kansas D. Kan. | 659 | 94% | 37 | 51% | 29% | 11% |
| Northern District of Georgia N.D. Ga. | 654 | 90% | 50 | 34% | 32% | 28% |
| Middle District of Georgia M.D. Ga. | 623 | 95% | 60 | 71% | 10% | 15% |
| Eastern District of California E.D. Cal. | 619 | 95% | 46 | 55% | 13% | 30% |
| District of South Dakota D.S.D. | 601 | 95% | 30 | 52% | 8% | 38% |
| Eastern District of Pennsylvania E.D. Pa. | 588 | 91% | 46 | 38% | 37% | 22% |
| Western District of Louisiana W.D. La. | 583 | 98% | 51 | 76% | 2% | 12% |
| Western District of Kentucky W.D. Ky. | 557 | 92% | 41 | 42% | 32% | 25% |
| Western District of Pennsylvania W.D. Pa. | 547 | 93% | 40 | 42% | 28% | 25% |
| District of Columbia D.D.C. | 545 | — | 36 | 53% | 21% | 22% |
| Middle District of Alabama M.D. Ala. | 531 | 95% | 46 | 50% | 12% | 34% |
| District of Minnesota D. Minn. | 510 | — | 66 | 47% | 13% | 35% |
| Northern District of Oklahoma N.D. Okla. | 493 | 90% | 34 | 48% | 29% | 17% |
| Eastern District of Wisconsin E.D. Wis. | 469 | 80% | 36 | 16% | 31% | 51% |
| District of Oregon D. Or. | 466 | 89% | 30 | 24% | 53% | 19% |
| Eastern District of New York E.D.N.Y. | 464 | 92% | 37 | 42% | 12% | 42% |
| Western District of Michigan W.D. Mich. | 441 | 96% | 57 | 66% | 10% | 19% |
| Northern District of West Virginia N.D.W. Va. | 439 | 79% | 37 | 59% | 11% | 28% |
| Western District of New York W.D.N.Y. | 408 | 95% | 46 | 48% | 25% | 13% |
| District of Nebraska D. Neb. | 397 | 92% | 37 | 51% | 17% | 26% |
| Southern District of West Virginia S.D.W. Va. | 389 | 91% | 37 | 60% | 7% | 30% |
| Eastern District of Louisiana E.D. La. | 384 | — | 60 | 75% | 5% | 12% |
| Middle District of Pennsylvania M.D. Pa. | 382 | 90% | 60 | 50% | 24% | 25% |
| Southern District of Illinois S.D. Ill. | 382 | 95% | 48 | 60% | 14% | 13% |
| Southern District of California S.D. Cal. | 372 | 95% | 24 | 16% | 66% | 17% |
| District of Connecticut D. Conn. | 371 | 94% | 37 | 39% | 16% | 40% |
| Eastern District of Kentucky E.D. Ky. | 368 | — | 63 | 71% | 7% | 20% |
| Eastern District of Washington E.D. Wash. | 364 | 91% | 30 | 42% | 29% | 22% |
| Central District of Illinois C.D. Ill. | 358 | — | 48 | 45% | 11% | 33% |
| Northern District of Florida N.D. Fla. | 355 | — | 54 | 50% | 11% | 32% |
| District of Massachusetts D. Mass. | 349 | — | 37 | 36% | 26% | 33% |
| District of Idaho D. Idaho | 323 | 92% | 30 | 51% | 13% | 33% |
| District of Alaska D. Alaska | 304 | — | 36 | 41% | 20% | 33% |
| Northern District of Mississippi N.D. Miss. | 298 | 89% | 36 | 52% | 13% | 29% |
| District of Wyoming D. Wyo. | 255 | — | 41 | 36% | 35% | 24% |
| Eastern District of Oklahoma E.D. Okla. | 250 | 94% | 46 | 78% | 7% | 14% |
| Middle District of Louisiana M.D. La. | 244 | 93% | 40 | 68% | 5% | 23% |
| Northern District of New York N.D.N.Y. | 243 | 93% | 37 | 56% | 20% | 23% |
| Western District of Washington W.D. Wash. | 243 | 94% | 24 | 31% | 36% | 30% |
| Western District of Arkansas W.D. Ark. | 225 | — | 57 | 62% | 4% | 26% |
| Western District of Virginia W.D. Va. | 218 | 88% | 36 | 35% | 25% | 31% |
| Western District of Wisconsin W.D. Wis. | 217 | 93% | 43 | 36% | 12% | 50% |
| District of North Dakota D.N.D. | 211 | — | 42 | 44% | 40% | 14% |
| District of Maine D. Me. | 197 | 88% | 24 | 28% | 40% | 26% |
| District of Vermont D. Vt. | 188 | — | 18 | 18% | 47% | 30% |
| District of New Hampshire D.N.H. | 134 | 81% | 24 | 31% | 40% | 25% |
| District of Delaware D. Del. | 117 | — | 46 | 54% | 17% | 25% |
| District of Hawaii D. Haw. | 80 | — | 33 | 54% | 16% | 24% |
| District of Rhode Island D.R.I. | 63 | 73% | 33 | 21% | 29% | 49% |
| District of the Virgin Islands D.V.I. | 57 | — | 38 | 72% | — | — |
| District of Guam D. Guam | 23 | — | 15 | 52% | — | — |
| District of the Northern Mariana Islands D.N. Mar. I. | <10 | fewer than 10 cases | ||||
§ 5Circuits compared
| Circuit | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia Circuit | 545 | — | 36 | 53% | 21% | 22% |
| First Circuit | 1,943 | 94% | 33 | 51% | 19% | 19% |
| Second Circuit | 2,590 | 95% | 37 | 43% | 15% | 36% |
| Third Circuit | 2,673 | 93% | 46 | 45% | 30% | 22% |
| Fourth Circuit | 7,459 | 94% | 50 | 55% | 14% | 24% |
| Fifth Circuit | 9,176 | 96% | 40 | 68% | 9% | 17% |
| Sixth Circuit | 8,064 | 95% | 42 | 48% | 19% | 30% |
| Seventh Circuit | 4,304 | 92% | 42 | 46% | 13% | 36% |
| Eighth Circuit | 9,880 | 96% | 46 | 53% | 14% | 25% |
| Ninth Circuit | 6,705 | 90% | 30 | 36% | 29% | 33% |
| Tenth Circuit | 5,316 | 93% | 37 | 46% | 29% | 20% |
| Eleventh Circuit | 7,350 | 94% | 48 | 60% | 12% | 24% |
§ 6Trend by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other | Above |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 7,512 | 95% | 42 | 56% | 15% | 24% | 5% |
| FY2019 | 8,481 | 94% | 41 | 55% | 16% | 26% | 4% |
| FY2020 | 7,539 | 94% | 37 | 52% | 16% | 28% | 5% |
| FY2021 | 8,151 | 94% | 40 | 51% | 18% | 26% | 5% |
| FY2022 | 9,318 | 94% | 41 | 51% | 18% | 25% | 5% |
| FY2023 | 8,832 | 94% | 44 | 50% | 19% | 25% | 6% |
| FY2024 | 8,131 | 94% | 43 | 51% | 19% | 24% | 7% |
| FY2025 | 8,041 | 94% | 44 | 50% | 18% | 26% | 7% |
§ 7Criminal history
Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: all federal cases.
§ 8Guideline sections involved
| Primary guideline | Subject | Cases | Share of this offence type |
|---|---|---|---|
| §2K2.1 | Unlawful receipt, possession or transportation of firearms or ammunition | 62,526 | 94.7% |
| §2K1.3 | Unlawful receipt, possession or transportation of explosive materials | 135 | 0.2% |
| §2K2.5 | Possession of firearm or dangerous weapon in a federal facility or school zone | 110 | 0.2% |
| §2X3.1 | Accessory after the fact | 48 | 0.1% |
| §2K1.1 | 16 | 0.0% | |
| §2K1.5 | 11 | 0.0% | |
| §2K2.6 | <10 | — | |
| §2X1.1 | Attempt, solicitation or conspiracy (not covered by a specific guideline) | <10 | — |
§ 9Questions and answers
What is the average federal sentence for firearms offences?
The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 41 months (3 yr 5 mo) and the mean was 53 months (life sentences counted as 470 months, the Commission's convention). Medians are used on this site because a few very long terms pull the mean upward.
How much does the sentence for firearms offences vary by district?
Among districts with at least 10 cases, medians ranged from 15 months (D. Guam) to 66 months (D. Minn.). The mix of guidelines, statutory minimums and criminal history within the offence type explains much of the spread.
How often are firearms offences sentenced outside the guideline range?
48% of sentences were outside the range: 17% below it on a government motion, 26% below it for other reasons and 6% above it.
Which guidelines apply to firearms offences?
The most common primary guidelines are §2K2.1, §2K1.3, §2K2.5 and §2X3.1. The Commission assigns the offence type mainly from the primary guideline the court applied.
Where do these figures come from?
The US Sentencing Commission's individual offender datafiles, FY2018–FY2025, using the Commission's OFFGUIDE offence type, SENTRNGE range status and SENTTCAP capped prison months. Counts under 10 are hidden.
§ 10Provenance
Source: United States Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles, fiscal years 2018–2025 (US government works), aggregated by this site; the FY2025 file is dated 29 Apr 2026. Offence type is the Commission's OFFGUIDE code 13. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.