Can a felon own a gun? In most cases, felons are banned from owning guns. However, there are loopholes that allow certain individuals to carry guns even with a felony.
The Gun Control Act prohibits felons from owning weapons, but there are exceptions. Those who have been convicted of crimes punishable by a year or more of imprisonment are included in the Act, but those with less-serious felonies could still be allowed to carry the weapon.
An amendment to the federal Firearms Act of 1938 created the ability for felons to apply for an exception from the law that restricts them from carrying a gun. If you are a felon and can convince the courts that your conviction doesn’t make you a public safety risk, this might be a loophole you can take advantage of.
In some states, you can regain the right to carry a gun after you serve your sentence. In others, you must wait a certain period of time before you can have your rights restored.
Some crimes won’t ban a felon from carrying a gun. For example, if you are involved in a case of unfair trade practices, then you may not be prohibited from carrying a gun, even though you could serve a sentence that is a year or longer.
If you’re facing court and know you could be convicted as a felon, you can speak to your attorney about your concerns and need for your weapon. You may find that you can still carry, even if you end up being convicted of the crime.
Source: Newsmax, “Can a Felon Own a Gun? 5 Loopholes in Federal Law,” Alana Marie Burke, accessed April 07, 2017
