Penal Code 30305(a)(1) PC – Possession of Ammunition by a Person Prohibited

Updated May 10, 2021

Penal Code 30305(a)(1) PC is the California statute that makes it a crime for people to own, possess, or have in their custody any ammunition when they are prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. A violation of this law can result in a felony charge punishable by up to three years in state prison.

The offense is often referred to as “felon in possession of ammunition” or “unlawful possession of ammunition.”

The language of PC 30305(a)(1) states: “No person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm…shall own, possess, or have under custody or control, any ammunition or reloaded ammunition.”

The following groups of people are generally prohibited from buying or possessing a gun (and thus ammunition, also) in California:

1. convicted felons,
2. narcotic addicts,
3. persons with two or more convictions under Penal Code Section 417 PC (brandishing a weapon),
4. persons convicted of certain misdemeanor offenses (such as corporal injury to a spouse, per California Penal Code 273.5 PC and crimes involving domestic violence),
5. persons who suffer from mental illness, and
6. people under 18 (this group of people, however, can own a BB gun if they have parental consent).

Examples of Unlawful Possession of Ammunition

• having ammunition in one’s home after losing gun rights because of a domestic violence offense
• owning several magazines while prohibited from owning a gun because of a restraining order
• keeping a box of bullets in a storage container after the person lost his/her gun rights for a violation of Penal Code 273.5 PC

Legal Defenses

Criminal defense lawyers draw on several legal strategies to help clients challenge possession of ammunition charges. Some of these include the attorney showing that:

• the defendant was justified in the possession,
• the accused did not know of the ammunition, and/or
• law enforcement conducted an unlawful search and seizure.

Penalties

A violation of California Penal Code Section 30305(a)(1) is a wobbler. A district attorney can charge a wobbler as either a misdemeanor offense or a felony offense.

Misdemeanor possession of ammunition is punishable by up to one year in county jail.

Felony possession of ammunition is punishable by up to three years in state prison.

Our California criminal defense attorneys will answer the following questions in this article:

• 1. How does California law define “prohibited person in possession of ammunition”?
• 2. What are the best defenses to this charge?
  • 2.1 Justified possession
  • 2.2 No knowledge
  • 2.3 Unlawful search and seizure
• 3. What are the penalties for violating PC 30305(a)(1)?
• 4. Can a person get a conviction expunged?
• 5. What are some related crimes?
  • 5.1 Possession of armor-piercing bullets – PC 30315
  • 5.2 Possession of bullets containing an explosive agent – PC 30210
  • 5.3 Felon in possession of a firearm – PC 29800

1. How does California law define “prohibited person in possession of ammunition”?

A prosecutor has to prove three things in order to successfully convict a person under this statute. These are:

1. the defendant owned, possessed, or had in his/her custody any ammunition,
2. the defendant knew that he/she owned, possessed, or had custody of the ammunition,¹ and
3. the accused was prohibited from owning or possessing the ammunition based on a prior conviction (criminal conviction) or a mental illness.²

“Ammunition” means a bullet, cartridge, magazine, clip, speed loader, autoloader, or projectile capable of being fired from a firearm with a deadly consequence. Ammunition includes reloaded ammunition.³

Further, for purposes of this statute, it does not matter what type of gun the ammunition is used for. The statute applies to all ammunition. For example, it is not limited to ammunition used for:

• handguns,
• assault weapons, or
• any type of concealed firearm.

Note that a person does not have to actually hold or touch something to possess it. It is enough if the person has control over it or the right to control it, either personally or through another person.

Some examples of people who suffer from a lifetime ban on owning or buying a firearm include:

• convicted felons, and
• narcotic addicts.⁴

2. What are the best defenses to this charge?

An accused has the right to raise a legal defense to challenge a possession of ammunition charge. A few common defenses include defendants showing that:

1. they were justified in possessing ammunition.
2. they did not know of the ammunition.
3. a police department conducted an unlawful search and seizure.

2.1 Justified possession

Defendants can challenge a charge under this statute if they can show that they were justified in possessing the ammunition.

In order to establish this defense, defendants must prove that:

1. they found the ammunition or took it from a person who was committing a crime against them, and
2. they possessed the ammunition no longer than was necessary to deliver or transport it to a law enforcement agency for that agency to dispose of the ammunition.⁵

2.2 No knowledge

Recall that people are only guilty under this statute if they knew that they owned, possessed, or had custody of ammunition. This means that it is always a defense for accused people to show that they did not have this knowledge. Perhaps, for example, someone planted the ammunition in a defendant’s backpack.

2.3 Unlawful search and seizure

Peace officers must have a valid search warrant to conduct a search and seize property. If they do not have a warrant, then they must have a legal reason for it. If no warrant or no legal reason for not having one, then the search and seizure is unlawful.

Given this, if a person was arrested under this statute after a search and seizure, the defendant can argue that the search and seizure was against the law. If successful, a judge can throw out any evidence gained from the illegal search. This could lead to a charge getting reduced or entirely dismissed.⁶

3. What are the penalties for violating PC 30305(a)(1)?

A violation of this law is a wobbler. A prosecutor can charge a wobbler as either a misdemeanor or a felony.

A misdemeanor conviction can result in a jail term of up to one year.⁷

A felony conviction can result in a prison term of up to three years.⁸

In addition to a jail or prison term, a judge can fine a defendant in an amount of up to $1,000.⁹

4. Can a person get a conviction expunged?

People convicted of a misdemeanor under PC 30305(a)(1) can get the conviction expunged. This is provided the defendant successfully completes his/her:

• jail sentence, or
• probation period (if probation was imposed).

But people convicted of a felony under this law cannot get it expunged.

This is because California law does not allow expungements for crimes that result in a defendant serving prison time.

5. What are some related crimes?

There are three crimes related to the possession of ammunition by a prohibited person. These are:

1. possession of armor-piercing bullets – PC 30315,
2. possession of bullets containing an explosive agent – PC 30210, and
3. felon in possession of a firearm – PC 29800.

5.1 Possession of armor-piercing bullets – PC 30315

Penal Code 30315 PC is the California statute that makes it a crime for a person or company to possess armor-piercing bullets and ammunition.

If a person was prohibited from owning a gun and still possessed these bullets, then a D.A. could charge the person under both:

• Penal Code 30315, and
• Penal Code 30305(a)(1).

5.2 Possession of bullets containing an explosive agent – PC 30210

Penal Code 30210 PC is the California statute that makes it a crime for a person to make, import, sell, give, or possess certain ammunition or bullets that contain a dart or an explosive agent.

As with PC 30305(a)(1), a violation under this statute is a wobbler offense.

5.3 Felon in possession of a firearm – PC 29800

Penal Code 29800 PC prohibits convicted felons (or persons with outstanding felony warrants) from owning, purchasing, or possessing firearms in California.

If people are convicted under this statute, then they will violate PC 30305(a)(1) if they ever come into possession of any ammunition.

For additional help…

For additional guidance or to discuss your case with a criminal defense lawyer, we invite you to contact our law firm at the Shouse Law Group. Our attorneys offer a free consultation and they represent people throughout all of California, including those in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, San Bernardino, and Pomona.

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