Being charged as a felon in possession can provide a sentence of up to 15 years, a 3-year supervised release, and a fine anywhere up to $250,000.

The pistol's formal designation as of 1940 was Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 for the original model of 1911 or Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911A1 for the M1911A1, adopted in 1924.

The US Army is the lead service in this program and the M9 replaced the M1911 .45 cal handgun.