Aiding and Abetting: Using or Carrying a Firearm is a criminal offense that involves helping someone else commit a crime involving a firearm. This can include aiding or abetting another person in the use or carrying of a firearm, whether the firearm is loaded or not, as well as providing assistance to another person in the possession of a firearm for the purpose of committing a crime. There are two types of Aiding and Abetting: Using or Carrying a Firearm offense: the federal crime, which is a felony, and the state crime, which is typically a misdemeanor. Federal Aiding and Abetting: Using or Carrying a Firearm is defined by 18 U.S. Code Section 924(a)(1)(A) as anyone who “aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces, or procures” another person in using or carrying a firearm while they are committing a crime of violence. The penalty for this offense is up to 10 years in federal prison. State Aiding and Abetting: Using or Carrying a Firearm laws vary from state to state, but generally involve aiding or abetting another person in the use or carrying of a firearm during the commission of a crime. The penalty for this offense can range from a few months in jail to several years in prison, depending on the state and the severity of the crime.