Does my criminal record prevent me from buying a gun in Pennsylvania?
Criminals records can make it illegal for a person to possess a firearm under both Federal and state laws, and the charges for illegal gun possession are very severe. Ignorance of the law is not a defense, meaning even if a person did not know that they were not allowed to possess a firearm can still be prosecuted. Under Federal law found at 18 U.S.C. 922, person is not permitted to possess or attempt to purchase a firearm if they:
- have been convicted of a felony under Federal or state law
- have been convicted of a misdemeanor offense and the maximum punishment that COULD have been imposed is more than 2 years
- are subject of an active final protection from abuse (PFA) order that prohibits possession of a firearm
- a person that was involuntarily committed to a mental institution
- fugutive from justice – wanted people cannot possess a gun
- an illegal alien
Restoration of Gun Rights
The prohibitions on possession and purchase do NOT go away with time, meaning convictions do not disappear from a record after so many years and thereby restore gun rights. When a person is not permitted to possess a firearm becuase of a conviction, the person must get rid of the convcition in order to restore 2nd Amendment rights. In order to overturn and get rid of the conviction, the person must obtain a pardon. For a Pennsylvania pardon, the person must go through the pardon process and have the governor sign the pardon.
Pennyslvania Pardon Attorney
Hiring an experienced Pennsylvaia pardon attorney substantially increases the probability of obtaing a pardon from the governor, and you often “get what you pay for” when it comes to legal representation. You should only hire an attorney that has client reviews and experience in handling the type of case involved. Attorney Jason Dunkle has successfully obtained pardons for clients, and his client reviews evidence that he takes care of clients. Contact JD Law via email or at (814) 689-9139.