Florida criminal charge
Alteration or removal of firearm serial number or possession, sale, or delivery of firearm with serial number altered or removed prohibited; penalties in Florida
Alteration or removal of firearm serial number or possession, sale, or delivery of firearm with serial number altered or removed prohibited; penalties is a criminal offense under Florida law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 790.27. Its classification is not fixed: Florida 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 Fla. Stat. § 790.27.
What is the penalty for alteration or removal of firearm serial number or possession, sale, or delivery of firearm with serial number altered or removed prohibited; penalties in Florida?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Altering or removing firearm serial number — Applies when a person knowingly alters or removes the manufacturer's or importer's serial number from a firearm with intent to disguise its true identity.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Altering or removing firearm serial number — Applies when a person knowingly alters or removes the manufacturer's or importer's serial number from a firearm with intent to disguise its true identity.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 1 year (Selling, delivering, or possessing firearm with altered/removed serial number — Applies when a person knowingly sells, delivers, or possesses a firearm on which the manufacturer's or importer's serial number has been unlawfully altered or removed.; county jail, not state prison (s. 775.08(2))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Selling, delivering, or possessing firearm with altered/removed serial number — Applies when a person knowingly sells, delivers, or possesses a firearm on which the manufacturer's or importer's serial number has been unlawfully altered or removed.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
Applies to current (2025 Florida Statutes).
How is alteration or removal of firearm serial number or possession, sale, or delivery of firearm with serial number altered or removed prohibited; penalties classified in Florida?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altering or removing firearm serial number | Felony of the Third Degree | Applies when a person knowingly alters or removes the manufacturer's or importer's serial number from a firearm with intent to disguise its true identity. | Fla. Stat. § 790.27(1)(b) |
| Selling, delivering, or possessing firearm with altered/removed serial number | Misdemeanor of the First Degree | Applies when a person knowingly sells, delivers, or possesses a firearm on which the manufacturer's or importer's serial number has been unlawfully altered or removed. | Fla. Stat. § 790.27(2)(b) |
Common questions about alteration or removal of firearm serial number or possession, sale, or delivery of firearm with serial number altered or removed prohibited; penalties in Florida
Is alteration or removal of firearm serial number or possession, sale, or delivery of firearm with serial number altered or removed prohibited; penalties a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
It depends on the circumstances: alteration or removal of firearm serial number or possession, sale, or delivery of firearm with serial number altered or removed prohibited; penalties ranges from a Misdemeanor of the First Degree to a Felony of the Third Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 790.27.
Altering or removing firearm serial number: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 790.27(1)(b)) · Selling, delivering, or possessing firearm with altered/removed serial number: Misdemeanor of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 790.27(2)(b))
What are the penalties for alteration or removal of firearm serial number or possession, sale, or delivery of firearm with serial number altered or removed prohibited; penalties in Florida?
Penalties for alteration or removal of firearm serial number or possession, sale, or delivery of firearm with serial number altered or removed prohibited; penalties in Florida depend on how it is classified — from a Misdemeanor of the First Degree up to a Felony of the Third Degree — with the ranges set by Fla. Stat. § 775.082; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Florida statute covers alteration or removal of firearm serial number or possession, sale, or delivery of firearm with serial number altered or removed prohibited; penalties?
Alteration or removal of firearm serial number or possession, sale, or delivery of firearm with serial number altered or removed prohibited; penalties is governed by Fla. Stat. § 790.27 (Alteration or removal of firearm serial number or possession, sale, or delivery of firearm with serial number altered or removed prohibited; penalties).
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.