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Indiana criminal charge

"Machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership in Indiana

Current through 2026 Indiana legislative session

"Machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership is a criminal offense under Indiana law, defined by Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7. Its classification is not fixed: Indiana assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.

Defined by Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7.

What is the penalty for "machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership in Indiana?

Penalties for "Machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prison1 years to 6 years (Transfer of machine gun to minor — A person knowingly or intentionally sells, gives, or otherwise transfers ownership or possession of a machine gun to a person under 18 years of age.; fixed term; advisory sentence 3 years)presumptiveInd. Code § 35-50-2-6
Fineup to $10,000 (Transfer of machine gun to minor — A person knowingly or intentionally sells, gives, or otherwise transfers ownership or possession of a machine gun to a person under 18 years of age.)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-2-6
Jail / prison2 years to 12 years (Transfer of machine gun to minor — prior conviction — The offense under this section is elevated because the transferor has a prior conviction under this section.; fixed term; advisory sentence 6 years)presumptiveInd. Code § 35-50-2-5.5
Fineup to $10,000 (Transfer of machine gun to minor — prior conviction — The offense under this section is elevated because the transferor has a prior conviction under this section.)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-2-5.5
Jail / prison3 years to 16 years (Transfer of machine gun to minor — used to commit murder — The offense is elevated because the person under eighteen years of age uses the machine gun to commit murder.; fixed term; advisory sentence 9 years)presumptiveInd. Code § 35-50-2-5
Fineup to $10,000 (Transfer of machine gun to minor — used to commit murder — The offense is elevated because the person under eighteen years of age uses the machine gun to commit murder.)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-2-5
Jail / prison1 years to 6 years (Criminal transfer of a handgun — A person knowingly or intentionally sells, gives, or otherwise transfers a handgun to another person known to be ineligible to purchase one (for reasons other than age) or known to intend to use it to commit a crime.; fixed term; advisory sentence 3 years)presumptiveInd. Code § 35-50-2-6
Fineup to $10,000 (Criminal transfer of a handgun — A person knowingly or intentionally sells, gives, or otherwise transfers a handgun to another person known to be ineligible to purchase one (for reasons other than age) or known to intend to use it to commit a crime.)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-2-6
Jail / prison3 years to 16 years (Criminal transfer of a handgun — used to commit murder — The offense is elevated because the other person uses the handgun to commit murder.; fixed term; advisory sentence 9 years)presumptiveInd. Code § 35-50-2-5
Fineup to $10,000 (Criminal transfer of a handgun — used to commit murder — The offense is elevated because the other person uses the handgun to commit murder.)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-2-5
Jail / prison1 years to 6 years (Straw purchase of a handgun — A person purchases a handgun intending to resell or provide it to someone ineligible to purchase it, intending to commit a crime, or intending to transport it outside Indiana for such resale or provision.; fixed term; advisory sentence 3 years)presumptiveInd. Code § 35-50-2-6
Fineup to $10,000 (Straw purchase of a handgun — A person purchases a handgun intending to resell or provide it to someone ineligible to purchase it, intending to commit a crime, or intending to transport it outside Indiana for such resale or provision.)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-2-6
Jail / prison3 years to 16 years (Straw purchase of a handgun — used to commit murder — The offense is elevated because the other person uses the handgun to commit murder.; fixed term; advisory sentence 9 years)presumptiveInd. Code § 35-50-2-5
Fineup to $10,000 (Straw purchase of a handgun — used to commit murder — The offense is elevated because the other person uses the handgun to commit murder.)discretionaryInd. Code § 35-50-2-5

Applies to offenses committed after June 30, 2014 (P.L.158-2013).

How is "machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership classified in Indiana?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for "Machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership
VariantClassificationWhen it appliesStatute
Transfer of machine gun to minorLevel 5 FelonyA person knowingly or intentionally sells, gives, or otherwise transfers ownership or possession of a machine gun to a person under 18 years of age.Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7(c)
Transfer of machine gun to minor — prior convictionLevel 4 FelonyThe offense under this section is elevated because the transferor has a prior conviction under this section.Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7(c)
Transfer of machine gun to minor — used to commit murderLevel 3 FelonyThe offense is elevated because the person under eighteen years of age uses the machine gun to commit murder.Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7(c)
Criminal transfer of a handgunLevel 5 FelonyA person knowingly or intentionally sells, gives, or otherwise transfers a handgun to another person known to be ineligible to purchase one (for reasons other than age) or known to intend to use it to commit a crime.Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7(d)
Criminal transfer of a handgun — used to commit murderLevel 3 FelonyThe offense is elevated because the other person uses the handgun to commit murder.Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7(d)
Straw purchase of a handgunLevel 5 FelonyA person purchases a handgun intending to resell or provide it to someone ineligible to purchase it, intending to commit a crime, or intending to transport it outside Indiana for such resale or provision.Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7(e)
Straw purchase of a handgun — used to commit murderLevel 3 FelonyThe offense is elevated because the other person uses the handgun to commit murder.Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7(e)

Common questions about "machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership in Indiana

Is "Machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership a felony or a misdemeanor in Indiana?

It depends on the circumstances: "Machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership ranges from a Level 5 Felony to a Level 3 Felony in Indiana under Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7.

Transfer of machine gun to minor: Level 5 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7(c)) · Transfer of machine gun to minor — prior conviction: Level 4 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7(c)) · Transfer of machine gun to minor — used to commit murder: Level 3 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7(c)) · Criminal transfer of a handgun: Level 5 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7(d)) · Criminal transfer of a handgun — used to commit murder: Level 3 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7(d)) · Straw purchase of a handgun: Level 5 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7(e)) · Straw purchase of a handgun — used to commit murder: Level 3 Felony (Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7(e))

What are the penalties for "Machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership in Indiana?

Penalties for "Machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership in Indiana depend on how it is classified — from a Level 5 Felony up to a Level 3 Felony — with the ranges set by Ind. Code § 35-50-2-6, Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5.5 and Ind. Code § 35-50-2-5; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.

Which Indiana statute covers "Machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership?

"Machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership is governed by Ind. Code § 35-47-2-7 ("Machine gun"; prohibited sales or transfers of ownership).

Legal terms used in this law

This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.