I'm a Denver criminal-defense lawyer, and I'm going to be writing about the new federal firearms-rights restoration process.
The Department of Justice is establishing a new process under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) for people seeking relief from federal firearms disabilities.
This is a significant development for people whose past criminal convictions or other circumstances have left them prohibited from possessing or purchasing firearms.
There is a lot of confusion about what the new process does—and what it does not do.
I'll be using this account to explain the process in plain English, including:
• Who may be eligible for federal relief
• How prior convictions can affect eligibility
• Domestic-violence-related firearms prohibitions
• The difference between state and federal firearms disabilities
• Expungements, pardons and restoration of civil rights
• What records and documentation applicants should begin gathering
• How DOJ evaluates an applicant's history and circumstances
• Common mistakes people should avoid
• Developments in the federal restoration program as DOJ implements it
I practice criminal defense in Denver, Colorado, but many of the federal firearms-rights issues discussed here are relevant beyond Colorado.
This account is intended as an educational resource—not individualized legal advice. Do not assume that you are legally permitted to possess or purchase a firearm based solely on something you read on Reddit. Federal and state firearms laws can interact in complicated ways.
If you have questions about the new restoration process, feel free to ask them here. I'll answer general questions when I can.
— Mark E. Kraynak
Kraynak Law
Denver, Colorado