67 USSG §2K2.1(a)(6)

Sentencing Guidelines for adjudicated mentally defective or committed to a mental institution found in possession of a firearm affecting interstate commerce

Base offense level 14 applies if the defendant either was a prohibited person at the time of the offense or was convicted of certain firearms transfer offenses.​ 67 USSG §2K2.1(a)(6).

Base offense moves up to a level 20 applies if the offense involved either possession of a “firearm that is described in 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a) (NFA item) or a semiautomatic firearm that is capable of accepting a large capacity magazine and defendant is a prohibited person like 18 U.S.C 922 (g)(4).

§2K2.1(b)(2), does not apply to mentally defective persons. The sentencing guideline states the offense level is reduced to 6 if the court finds that the defendant “possessed all ammunition and firearms solely for lawful sporting purposes or collection, and did not unlawfully discharge or otherwise unlawfully use such firearms or ammunition.” This reduction does not apply if the defendant receives a base offense level premised on the offense involving certain types of firearms or the defendant having certain prior convictions, discussed above (base offense levels 26, 24, 22, 20, 18). This is construed to mean that an adjudicated mentally defective defendant may have their level reduced if their firearm is like a break action rifle that they can show was used only for hunting or shooting clays (or another sporting purpose) and there is no proof it was also for self defense/protection.

USSG §2K2.1(b)(2) dictates that defendant bears the burden of proving the applicability of this reduction.


This evinces that mentally ill defendants are not treated as severely as felons in possession in connection with controlled substances or commission of a crime but mentally ill defendants in possession are still considered serious offenses by the USSC especially with firearms with certain features.


So in this scenario mentally ill defendant could be charged as a level 14 for renting: "Defendant called the agent to ask (1) whether he could rent guns to shoot at a range, and (2) whether he could purchase a firearm if he stated that he had been adjudicated as a mental defective. The agent answered "no" to both questions".
(United States v. Tucker (5th Cir. 2022) 47 F.4th 258, 260.)