What are the Consequences for Mistakes/ Falsifying Statements on Gun Applications in PA?

You might consider yourself lucky for having the right to bear a firearm as a U.S citizen. But what you probably didn’t know is that there is a string of legal consequences that might backfire if you falsify a statement or commit an honest mistake on your gun application!

What’s worse is that the consequences won’t just stop with a denial of your request. You might also risk facing charges of a felony!

Having said that, let’s explore this blog to know more about the consequences of lying or committing mistakes on a gun application in PA, and how a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer can help you out.

The Two Main Forms

So, when you go to a firearm dealer and wish to buy a gun, you are required to fill out two forms-

• The Federal Firearms Transaction Record- Form 4473, and
• The Pennsylvania State Police Application/ Record of Sale Form- SP 4-113.

Other than these, you also need to fill out an application for a License to Carry a Firearm. Now, this particular form requires you to detail your criminal history. Not just that, but this application gets cross-checked against the state police’s records, and any discrepancy would trigger an investigation.

So, before you fill these out, consult a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer if you have any doubts. It is always better to verify your history than to get involved in a criminal conviction!

Charges and Penalties for Falsifying on Gun Applications

If the cops have evidence that you falsified on your gun application, here are some of the charges and penalties you’re likely to face-

• If you’ve made a false statement in your application, it becomes a second-degree misdemeanor. You can face up to 2 years of imprisonment and a $5,000 fine.
• If you’ve intentionally used fake IDs to purchase a gun, it is considered a third-degree felony. You can face up to 7 years of imprisonment, along with a $15,000 fine.

Even if you wanted to buy a hunting rifle and made a simple error, there’s a high chance that you’ll face such charges. So, it is very important that you don’t plead guilty and consult a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer to take the next step accordingly.

How Can a Lawyer Prove Your Innocence?

For a conviction in a firearm case, the prosecutors are required to present that you ‘knowingly and intentionally’ made a false statement. This means they have to prove that you intended to deceive the government. And that’s quite a high bar for the prosecution to clear.

A skilled Pittsburgh criminal lawyer can look up your history to prove that you committed a genuine mistake. Perhaps you believed that your record was clean, or maybe the complex wording on the form confused you. A skilled lawyer can effectively build a case to show you are not a criminal and can fight to get the charges reduced or dismissed.

So, if you were planning to buy a firearm, do not ever take the application lightly! Make sure that you’re void of any criminal records before you sign on any state or federal documents.

Also, if your application gets denied, don’t wait for the cops to knock on your door; reach out to us at Logue Law Group to hire a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer right away. Call us at 412-387-6901 to consult with our experts today!