One of the most common gun-related charges in New York is criminal possession of a firearm. This can include owning an illegal gun, such as a sawed off shotgun, or owning banned ammunition, including armor-piercing bullets. Felons accused of being in possession of a firearm may also face this charge.
Criminal possession of a firearm is charged in degrees, with a fourth-degree charge being a misdemeanor charge. The first-degree charge of criminal possession of a weapon is the most serious of these charges, and can mean conviction can result in 25 years in prison.