I do not believe unlawful possession of a firearm is classified as a "violent crime"; for instance:
"Crime of violence" does not include the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (US code).
Possessing a firearm while committing a robbery is a violent crime, whether you use it or not. But the robbery itself is also classified as a violent crime, with or without the gun.
> "Crime of violence" does not include the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (US code).
That's at the federal level, which constitutes a smaller percentage of total inmates, more of which are in for non-violent drug offenses, than the states. And for example:
"Although the statutes allow for varying degrees and punishments, the crime [Criminal Possession of a Weapon] is generally considered a violent offense in New York with mandatory minimum terms of incarceration."
But we don't need to get into the whole gun control debate, it's only one example. The problem of criminal laws expanding to encompass more than what a normal person would consider to be criminal behavior is prolific and by no means limited to nonviolent offenses. The instance elsewhere in the comments of someone being arrested for "kidnapping" for refusing to allow someone else to abscond with his phone, for example.
"Crime of violence" does not include the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (US code).
Possessing a firearm while committing a robbery is a violent crime, whether you use it or not. But the robbery itself is also classified as a violent crime, with or without the gun.