{"id":29035,"date":"2025-04-04T14:20:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T14:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monderlaw.com\/\/?p=29035"},"modified":"2025-04-04T14:28:16","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T14:28:16","slug":"what-penal-code-pc-29800-california-felon-possession-firearm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monderlaw.com\/news\/what-penal-code-pc-29800-california-felon-possession-firearm\/","title":{"rendered":"Felon in Possession of a Firearm: Understanding the Crime &#038; Charges"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29036\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monderlaw.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/What-is-Penal-Code-29800-in-California-1.jpg\" alt=\"What is Penal Code 29800 in California\" width=\"1000\" height=\"666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monderlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/What-is-Penal-Code-29800-in-California-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.monderlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/What-is-Penal-Code-29800-in-California-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monderlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/What-is-Penal-Code-29800-in-California-1-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>Possession of a firearm, especially an illegal one, is a major offense in every US jurisdiction. However, California is especially stringent with its gun laws, and even first-time offenders are looking at hefty fines and lengthy prison sentences. For those previously convicted of serious crimes, however, the situation is even more complicated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A felon in possession of a firearm can typically expect little-to-no leeway when charged, necessitating an intervention by an excellent criminal lawyer in San Diego to even stand a chance in court. Today, we\u2019ll explore a legal definition of this offense in California and federal law, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monderlaw.com\/\/firearms\/felon-in-possession-of-a-firearm\/\">breaking down the elements of the crime to give you a comprehensive overview<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is Penal Code 29800 in California?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">California <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&amp;sectionNum=29800\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Penal Code \u00a729800<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the main piece of legislation that defines who is prohibited from owning, carrying, purchasing, receiving, or otherwise possessing a firearm, as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Under CA PC \u00a729800<\/strong>, any person who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of the United States, the State of California, or any other government, state, or country is prohibited from possessing a firearm.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other words, a felony conviction prohibits a person from owning a firearm in California, regardless of where the conviction originates from.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the definition of a felon?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the purposes of CA PC \u00a729800, a felon is any individual who is:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Convicted of offenses enumerated in subdivisions (a), (b), and (d) of <strong>CA PC \u00a723515(a)(2)<\/strong>;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Addicted to the use of any narcotic drug (<strong>21 U.S.C. \u00a7802<\/strong>);<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Convicted of two or more counts of violating paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of <strong>CA PC \u00a7417<\/strong> (brandishing a firearm).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aware of an outstanding warrant for any of these offenses.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>A juvenile prosecuted of a felony<\/strong> as an adult.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, convictions from other jurisdictions are considered in California for felony convictions to apply if one of the following is true:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A person is convicted of a like offense under equivalent criminal law, resulting in a felony punishment or;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The defendant was sentenced to a federal correctional facility for more than 30 days, received a fine of more than $1,000, or both.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What happens if a felon gets caught around a gun?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a convicted felon is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.monderlaw.com\/\/news\/what-penal-code-pc-25850-ca-california\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">caught carrying a (loaded) firearm<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, they can expect substantial penalties that may include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Up to 3 years in county jail or state prison;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A fine of up to $10,000;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both the fine and a prison sentence;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Felony or formal probation (at judge&#8217;s discretion; may still include a year in jail);<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Giving up any firearms a person owns.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, there are collateral consequences of being convicted of this felony, which may include one or more of the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A lifetime ban on purchasing or owning a weapon;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loss of right to vote or serve on a jury;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loss of employment and\/or professional licenses;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Removal or deportation under federal law (for non-US citizens);<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Temporary loss of 4th Amendment rights (for individuals already on probation or parole).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, it must be noted that having a prior felony conviction in one&#8217;s criminal record immediately elevates current firearm charges to felonies &#8211; even if the offense might otherwise be considered a &#8220;wobbler&#8221;.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who\u2019s the leading felon in possession of a firearm criminal lawyer near me in San Diego?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monder Criminal Lawyer Group provides mindful and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monderlaw.com\/\/news\/california-felon-possession-firearm-defense\/\">strategic defense for \u201cfelon in possession of a firearm\u201d charges<\/a>, as well as other <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.monderlaw.com\/\/news\/what-happens-caught-carrying-loaded-gun-firearm-california\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">offenses related to carrying a loaded firearm<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Our expertise is available across the San Diego area, so whether you\u2019re in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/North_Park,_San_Diego\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Park<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or elsewhere in the region &#8211; don\u2019t hesitate. Reach out to us today for a confidential consultation and let our experienced team guide you to the best possible outcome.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Possession of a firearm, especially an illegal one, is a major offense in every US jurisdiction. However, California is especially stringent with its gun laws, and even first-time offenders are looking at hefty fines and lengthy prison sentences. For those previously convicted of serious crimes, however, the situation is even more complicated.\u00a0 A felon in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29036,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29035","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Felon in Possession of a Firearm in CA Law | Criminal Lawyer San Diego<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What happens when a person with a prior felony conviction gets caught with a firearm? 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