14.14 Firearms—Unlawful Shipment or Transportation (18 U.S.C. § 922(g))

          The defendant is charged in [Count _______ of] the indictment with [[shipping] [transporting]] [[a firearm] [ammunition]] in violation of Section 922(g) of Title 18 of the United States Code.  For the defendant to be found guilty of that charge, the government must prove each of the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt: 

            First, the defendant knowingly [[shipped] [transported]] [[specify firearm] [specify ammunition]] [[from one state to another] [between a foreign nation and the United States]]; 

            Second, at the time of [shipment] [transportation] the defendant was [specify applicable prohibited status from 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1)-(9)]; and 

            Third, at the time the defendant [[shipped] [transported]] [[specify firearm] [specify ammunition]] [[from one state to another] [between a foreign nation and the United States]], the defendant knew [he] [she] was [specify applicable prohibited status from 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1)-(9)]. 

Comment 

            See Comment in 14.1 (Firearms).           

            For a discussion of both knowledge elements for a prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), see Rehaif v. United States, 139 S. Ct. 2191, 2200 (2019) (“[T]he Government must prove both that the defendant knew he possessed a firearm and that he knew he belonged to the relevant category of persons barred from possessing a firearm.”).  For a discussion of the nine categories of prohibited status set forth in 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1)-(9), see Comment to Instruction 14.13 (Firearms—Unlawful Receipt). 

Revised May 2023