CALCRIM No. 2592. Possession of Ammunition by Person Prohibited From Possessing Firearm Due to Court Order (Pen. Code, § 30305(a))
Judicial Council of California Criminal Jury Instructions (2024 edition)
Download PDF
2592.Possession of Ammunition by Person Prohibited From
Possessing Firearm Due to Court Order (Pen. Code, § 30305(a))
The defendant is charged [in Count ] with unlawfully possessing
ammunition [in violation of Penal Code section 30305(a)].
To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must
prove that:
1. The defendant (owned/possessed/had under (his/her) custody or
control) ammunition;
2. The defendant knew (he/she) (owned/possessed/had under (his/
her) custody or control) the ammunition;
[AND]
3. A court had ordered that the defendant not (own/purchase/
receive/possess) a firearm(;/.)
<Give element 4 in cases involving restraining orders.>
[AND
4. The defendant knew of the court’s order.]
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.
[Two or more people may possess something at the same time.]
[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.]
[The defendant and the People have stipulated, or agreed, that a court
ordered the defendant not to (own/purchase/receive/possess) a firearm.
This stipulation means that you must accept this fact as proved.]
<Alternative A - limiting instruction when stipulation as to order>
[Do not consider this fact for any other purpose [except for the limited
purpose of <insert other permitted purpose, e.g., determining
the defendant’s credibility>]. Do not speculate about why the court’s order
was made.]
<Alternative B - limiting instruction when no stipulation as to order>
[You may consider evidence, if any, that a court ordered the defendant
not to (own/purchase/receive/possess) a firearm only in deciding whether
the People have proved this element of the charged crime [or for the
477
limited purpose of <insert other permitted purpose, e.g.,
assessing defendant’s credibility>]. Do not consider such evidence for any
other purpose.]
<Defense: Justifiable Possession>
[If you conclude that the defendant possessed ammunition, that
possession was not unlawful if the defendant can prove that (he/she) was
justified in possessing the ammunition. In order to establish this defense,
the defendant must prove that:
1. (He/She) (found the ammunition/took the ammunition from a
person who was committing a crime against the defendant);
AND
2. (He/She) possessed the ammunition no longer than was necessary
to deliver or transport the ammunition to a law enforcement
agency for that agency to dispose of the ammunition.
The defendant has the burden of proving each element of this defense by
a preponderance of the evidence. This is a different standard of proof
than proof beyond a reasonable doubt. To meet the burden of proof by a
preponderance of the evidence, the defendant must prove that it is more
likely than not that each element of the defense is true.]
New January 2006; Revised February 2012
BENCH NOTES
Instructional Duty
The court has a sua sponte duty to give this instruction defining the elements of the
crime.
Use this instruction only if the prosecution alleges that the defendant was prohibited
from possessing firearms under Penal Code section 29815, possession by someone
prohibited as a condition of probation who was convicted of a crime not listed in
other provisions of Penal Code section 29800, or under Penal Code section 29825,
possession by someone prohibited by a temporary restraining order or other
protective order.
Give element 4 only if the prosecution alleges that the defendant was prohibited
from possessing firearms under Penal Code section 29825.
If the defendant has not stipulated to the probation order, do not give the bracketed
paragraph that begins, “The defendant and the People have stipulated.”
If the defendant does stipulate to the probation order, the court must give the
bracketed paragraph that begins, “The defendant and the People have stipulated.”
The court must also sanitize all references to the probation order to prevent
disclosure of the nature of the conviction to the jury. (People v. Sapp (2003) 31
CALCRIM No. 2592 WEAPONS
478
Cal.4th 240, 261 [2 Cal.Rptr.3d 554, 73 P.3d 433]; People v. Valentine (1986) 42
Cal.3d 170, 173 [228 Cal.Rptr. 25, 720 P.2d 913].) If the defendant agrees, the court
must not read the portion of the information describing the nature of the conviction.
Likewise, the court must ensure that the verdict forms do not reveal the nature of
the conviction.
On request, the court should give the limiting instruction regarding the evidence of
the probation condition. (People v. Valentine, supra, 42 Cal.3d at p. 182, fn. 7.)
There is no sua sponte duty to give the limiting instruction, and the defense may
prefer that no limiting instruction be given. (People v. Griggs (2003) 110
Cal.App.4th 1137, 1139 [2 Cal.Rptr.3d 380].) If the defendant does not stipulate to
the probation condition, give alternative A. If the defendant does stipulate, give
alternative B.
Defenses - Instructional Duty
Penal Code section 30305(c) states that a violation of the statute is “justifiable” if
the listed conditions are met. This is an affirmative defense and the defense bears
the burden of establishing the defense by a preponderance of the evidence. (Ibid.) If
sufficient evidence has been presented, the court has a sua sponte duty to give the
bracketed paragraph on the defense of justifiable possession.
AUTHORITY
• Elements. Pen. Code, § 30305(a).
• Ammunition Defined. Pen. Code, § 16150.
• Knowledge. See People v. Rubalcava (2000) 23 Cal.4th 322, 331-332 [96
Cal.Rptr.2d 735, 1 P.3d 52].
• Justifiable Possession. Pen. Code, § 30305(c).
• Limiting Instruction on Prior Conviction. People v. Valentine (1986) 42 Cal.3d
170, 182, fn. 7 [228 Cal.Rptr. 25, 720 P.2d 913]; People v. Griggs (2003) 110
Cal.App.4th 1137, 1139 [2 Cal.Rptr.3d 380].
• Constructive vs. Actual Possession. See People v. Azevedo (1984) 161
Cal.App.3d 235, 242-243 [207 Cal.Rptr. 270], questioned on other grounds in In
re Jorge M. (2000) 23 Cal.4th 866, 876, fn. 6 [98 Cal.Rptr.2d 466, 4 P.3d 297].
SECONDARY SOURCES
2 Witkin & Epstein, California Criminal Law (4th ed. 2012) Crimes Against Public
Peace and Welfare, § 210.
6 Millman, Sevilla & Tarlow, California Criminal Defense Practice, Ch. 144, Crimes
Against Order, § 144.01[1][c] (Matthew Bender).
2593-2599. Reserved for Future Use
WEAPONS CALCRIM No. 2592
479
© Judicial Council of California.
