People possess guns for a number of different reasons in Philadelphia. Some use them to hunt or for sport, some possess them in order to keep their home and family safe, others however, use them to harm others. For this reason there are a number of restrictions on who can possess them and where people can possess. People can also lose their right to possess firearms by committing various serious crimes and for other reasons.
In addition to rules about who can possess firearms, there are also serial numbers on guns which are used to determine the owner of the gun. This is important to track where people get the guns from and who is responsible for them. For this reason, it is also illegal to possess a gun with an altered, changed or removed serial number.
If a person is caught possessing a firearm with an altered serial number the person may face gun charges. If convicted the person could face a felony in the second degree and up to 10 years in prison. There is one exception to this rule though. If the firearm is an antique then the firearm does not need to have a serial number.
However, if a person is charged with possessing a gun with an altered serial number, it does not automatically mean they are guilty. There may be defenses available to the person charged depending on the circumstances and facts of the case.
There are many guns in Philadelphia. These guns are used for a variety of reasons, some legal and some illegal. For this reason, guns must have serial numbers on them. If the serial number has been altered or changed, the person possessing it could be charged with a crime. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Experienced attorneys understand people’s rights in these situations and may be able to protect them.
Source: Pennsylvania State Legislature, “Pennsylvania statute Title 18 section 6110.2,” accessed on May 23, 2016
