Firearms cases are the third-largest offense category in the U.S. Sentencing Commission's FY2025 file — 8,041 of 66,662 cases, or 12.1 percent. This category did not appear in the site's earlier October lookup.
Texas leads in case volume with 898 cases, followed by Missouri (525), Florida (428), and North Carolina (407). Firearms sentencing is spread more evenly across jurisdictions than immigration sentencing.
High imprisonment rate, no life sentences
Of the 8,041 firearms cases, 7,552 — 93.9 percent — received a prison sentence. No life sentences appear in the file for this category.
2.7 percent of firearms defendants were tried rather than pleading.
The median sentence varies by jurisdiction
Across the jurisdictions in this lookup, medians range from 18 months to 82.5 months (U.S. Virgin Islands, 7 cases). Arkansas, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Minnesota all had medians at 60 months. Arizona and Vermont were at 18 months.
The two most common federal firearms charges produce very different guideline ranges. Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) (felon-in-possession), there is no mandatory minimum; the guideline range depends on the defendant's criminal history and offense level, and can produce sentences near 18 months for a defendant with minimal history. Under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (firearm use during a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense), a 60-month mandatory minimum applies on a first count, stacked on top of any other sentence.
The 18-month medians in Arizona and Vermont are consistent with caseloads dominated by possession charges without a stacked § 924(c) count. The 60-month medians in Arkansas, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Minnesota suggest a higher proportion of stacked counts. This file does not break down firearms cases by statute of conviction.
Guideline range position
50.0 percent of firearms defendants were sentenced within the guideline range. Judge-initiated below-range sentences — downward departures and below-range variances not driven by a government motion — account for 25.7 percent of firearms cases. That is notably higher than the 18.6 percent across all categories. Government-sponsored below-range sentences are 17.7 percent. §5K1.1 substantial-assistance departures account for 5.2 percent. Above-range sentences are 6.5 percent.
The above-range rate for firearms (6.5 percent) is higher than average. Some jurisdictions apply weapon enhancements under § 2K2.1 or related guidelines that push sentences above the calculated range.
What is not on this page
The lookup shows aggregate figures. It does not break down firearms cases by statute (§ 922(g) versus § 924(c) or other provisions), by weapon type, or by the underlying offense if one was charged. No defendant record is on this page. These figures are observational. An association in a table is not a cause.