California's gun laws are among the most stringent in the United States. These laws not only affect your right to own or possess a gun but also carry severe legal penalties if you commit certain California crimes with a gun.
This law is famously known as California's “use a gun and you're done” law and is defined under California Penal Code 12022.53 PC as follows:
- “Anyone who is committing a specific felony crime using a firearm will be punished by an additional 10 years in state prison. The firearm doesn't have to be operable or loaded. Anyone who discharges a firearm will receive an additional 20 years and an additional 25 years if they discharge a firearm causing great bodily injury.”
In simple terms, Penal Code 12022.53 imposes additional legal penalties if you commit specific crimes using a gun. It allows an “enhancement” to California state prison sentences for some serious felony offenses if there was a gun used in the commission of the crime. In other words, it “enhances” a state prison sentence in California by simply making the sentence significantly longer.
Previously, if you used a gun in the commission of some crimes, you would be facing a mandatory minimum prison term. However, in 2017, the lawmakers in California passed Senate Bill 620 – which gives judges the decision-making power to dismiss a 10-20-life sentence enhancement – as long as it's “in the interest of justice.”
Now, the decision is at the judge's discretion rather than a mandatory minimum. If you have been accused of using a gun to commit a serious felony crime in Los Angeles, it's crucial to consult with our law firm to review the details and receive expert guidance.
Our Los Angeles, criminal defense lawyers, are providing an overview below to help readers better understand California's “use a gun and you're done” law under PC 12022.53.
Felony Crimes That Apply to PC 12022.53 Gun Sentence Enhancement
It should be noted that the PC 12022.53 gun sentencing enhancement, “use a gun and you're done,” law doesn't apply to all offenses when a gun was used to commit a crime. It only applies to specific serious California felony crimes:
- Penal Code 187 – Murder
- Penal Code 203 – Mayhem
- Penal Code 207, 209 – Kidnapping
- Penal Code 215 – Carjacking
- Penal Code 211 – Robbery
- Penal Code 262 – Rape
- Penal Code 286 – Sodomy
- Penal Code 264.1 – Gang Rape
- Penal Code 288 – Lewd Acts of Child
- Penal Code 288a – Oral Copulation
- Penal Code 289 – Sexual Penetration
- Penal Code 4500 – Assault by Life Prisoner
- Penal Code 4501 – Assault by Prisoner
- Penal Code 4503 – Holding Hostage by Prisoner
- Penal Code 245(d) – Assault with Firearm on Police/Firefighter
- Any Felony Crime Punishable by Life in Prison or Death
- Any Attempt to Commit Crimes Above
Again, under PC 12022.53, the gun doesn't have to be loaded or operable to be convicted under this sentencing enhancement – and you don't need to have fired the gun while committing the felony crime. In other words, you are considered to have used a gun to commit a crime when you display it menacingly.
Penal Code Section 12022.53, gun sentencing enhancement law, is similar to under California Penal Code Section 417, brandishing a firearm law.
Penalties for Penal Code 12022.53
California Penal Code Section 12022.53, “Use a Gun, and You're Done” sentencing enhancement provides a maximum sentence for each type of gun violation:
Use of a firearm
If you used a gun to commit any of the felony crimes listed above, a prison term of up to 10 years will be added to your sentence. Once again, it's important to note the gun doesn't need to be loaded or even operated to receive the enhancement. The phrase “use of a firearm” is broadly defined and includes just the display of the gun.
Firing a gun
If you discharged a gun while committing any of the California felony crimes listed above, you will be facing an additional 20 years added to your sentence. To “discharge a gun” means you intentionally pulled the trigger to fire the gun, even in cases where the gun might misfire.
Great bodily injury or death
If you used a gun and caused someone to suffer great bodily injury or death, you will be facing an additional 25 years to life in a California state prison. This enhancement applies in a situation when, during the commission of a felony crime above, you intentionally discharged a firearm, causing great bodily injury or death to someone else, other than an accomplice. A “great bodily injury” is described as a significant physical injury – but it doesn't have to be a permanent injury.
Fighting Penal Code 12022.53 Gun Enhancement
Our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers can use a wide range of strategies on your behalf if accused under California's 10-20-life ‘use a gun, and you're done'” law.
In order to obtain the gun enhancement, the prosecutor must be able to prove – beyond any reasonable doubt – all the elements of the crime. Common legal defenses include:
- You didn't personally use a gun during the commission of a crime;
- You didn't commit the underlying felony crime that subjected you to a “10-20-life” gun sentence enhancement;
- You were acting in self-defense. By law, you are allowed to defend yourself from imminent great bodily harm reasonably. We might be able to make a successful argument that you only used the amount of force needed to defend yourself.
If you've been charged with one of the felony crimes listed above and accused of using a gun in the commission of the crime, it's imperative to consult with our lawyers immediately.
The judge now has the discretion to remove the 10-20-life sentencing enhancement. Our lawyers will review the details of your case to prepare an effective strategy for the best possible outcome. We could greatly increase your chances of avoiding the harsh gun sentencing enhancement and the consequences of a felony conviction.
We serve clients throughout Southern California, including the greater Los Angeles area. We need to examine all the details of your situation closely first. Contact our law firm for a free case evaluation.
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