criminal-law firearms spain fines
Is possession of a firearm in Spain only punishable by a fine?
<p>I have read on the <a href="http://www.interior.gob.es/en/web/servicios-al-ciudadano/seguridad/armas-y-explosivos/regimen-sancionador#:%7E:text=Armas%20de%20fuego%20prohibidas%20o,d%C3%ADa%20hasta%20dos%20a%C3%B1os%20de" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Interior Ministry website</a> (<a href="https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&amp;sl=es&amp;tl=en&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.interior.gob.es%2Fen%2Fweb%2Fservicios-al-ciudadano%2Fseguridad%2Farmas-y-explosivos%2Fregimen-sancionador%23%3A%257E%3Atext%3DArmas%2520de%2520fuego%2520prohibidas%2520o%2Cd%25C3%25ADa%2520hasta%2520dos%2520a%25C3%25B1os%2520de" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Google translation link</a>) that in Spain possession of a firearm, in the absence of any other crime (such as armed robbery) is only subject to a fine of up to €30,000.</p>
<p>My questions are:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Is it correct that possession of a firearm in Spain is only punishable by a fine but not imprisonment?</p>
</li>
<li><p>What happens if you cannot pay the fine?</p>
</li>
</ol>

<p><strong>Is it correct that possession of a firearm in Spain is only punishable by a fine but not imprisonment?</strong></p>
<p>It depends...</p>
<p><strong>Yes</strong>: &quot;If they do not constitute crimes&quot; as per the OP's linked article, otherwise:</p>
<p><strong>No</strong> according to Article 564 of Spain's Criminal Code <a href="https://www.legislationline.org/documents/section/criminal-codes/country/2/Spain/show" rel="nofollow noreferrer">pdf</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<ol>
<li>Possessing regulated firearms while lacking the necessary licences or permits shall be punished:</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>
<ol>
<li>With a sentence of imprisonment from one to two years for handguns;</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>
<ol start="2">
<li>With a sentence of imprisonment of six months to one year for long firearms;</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ul>
<ol start="2">
<li>The felonies defined in the preceding Section shall be punished, respectively, by prison sentences of two to three
years and from one to two years, when any of the following circumstances concurs:</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>
<ol>
<li>When the weapons lack factory marks or serial numbers, or have these altered or obliterated;</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>
<ol start="2">
<li>Which have been unlawfully imported into Spain;</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>
<ol start="3">
<li>Which have been transformed, modifying their original characteristics.</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
