You were young when you got into trouble with the law. As a result of multiple arrests and convictions, you ended up losing your right to possess a firearm. You lost your civil rights. You are living a limited life, even though you served your time in prison and paid your dues.
One of the effects of getting a felony conviction or felony delinquency adjudication is that you will no longer be able to have a firearm, stun weapon, explosive materials or ammunition. Not only can you not own those items, you can also not possess or transport them.
Can you get your gun rights back?
By federal law, you will also lose your right to possess a firearm if you have a conviction for domestic violence. Unfortunately, the courts in Virginia cannot give you your gun rights back if you have that federal conviction. The good news is that you may be able to have your gun rights restored if you were convicted for other crimes. The steps are not simple, and it will take work to get your rights back.
What steps do you need to take to get a weapon legally after a felony?
After you lose your firearm rights, you will need to apply to the Governor of Virginia and ask for a restoration of your civil rights. This restoration does not give you the right to possess a firearm, even if the governor does grant it.
Once you have your civil rights restored, you’ll have to petition the circuit court. You will have to ask the court for your rights back. The judge will have broad discretion, and there are no specific guidelines for them to follow. It’s important to have your attorney work with you to present a favorable argument, so that the judge takes your request seriously and enters an order allowing you to regain your firearm rights.
Our website has more on what it takes to get your rights back. You did the time for your actions, so it’s important for you to have your civil rights restored.