§1792. Possession of unidentifiable firearm; particular penalties; identification of source of firearm

A. No person shall intentionally receive, possess, carry, conceal, buy, sell, transfer, or transport any firearm which has been illegally obtained or from which the serial number or individual identifying mark, as required by R.S. 40:1788, has been intentionally obliterated, altered, removed, or concealed.

B. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any firearm which is an antique or war relic and is inoperable or for which ammunition is no longer manufactured in the United States and is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade, or which was originally manufactured without such a number.

C. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, whoever violates the provisions of this Section may be fined not more than one thousand dollars and shall be imprisoned at hard labor for five years without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.

D. Prior to sentencing for a conviction under this Section, the defendant shall be given the opportunity to identify the source of the firearm upon which the conviction was based. If the defendant reveals the identity of the source of the weapon and the identity of the source is confirmed by the prosecutor or the court, the defendant shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

E. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prevent the prosecution of an individual who obtained the firearm by theft, robbery, deception, or by other unlawful means from the lawful owner of the firearm.

F. Any illegally obtained firearm or a firearm from which the serial number or identifying mark required by R.S. 40:1788 has been obliterated or altered is hereby declared to be contraband and shall be seized by the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction. If it is determined that a person other than the owner was responsible for removing, altering, or obliterating the serial number or identifying mark, the firearm shall be returned to its lawful owner or may be disposed of according to law but only after a new serial number has been permanently fixed on the firearm. If a new serial number is not so affixed, the firearm shall be destroyed by the law enforcement agency in possession of the firearm.

Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 29, §1.