Federal law generally prohibits a person with a qualifying felony conviction from possessing firearms or ammunition under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), unless the conviction no longer counts under federal law or legally effective relief applies. State law can impose a separate disability or restoration route.
Can a felon own a gun under federal law?
For a qualifying conviction, § 922(g)(1) is the starting point. Ownership and possession are related but not identical concepts; a prohibited person should not assume that title paperwork, storage with another person, or a state hunting license makes possession lawful.
Can you own a gun with a felony after state restoration?
Possibly, but state restoration is only one layer. The effect of a pardon, expungement, set-aside, or civil-rights restoration must be tested under § 921(a)(20), and a separate federal conviction or federal disability may remain.
Can I own a gun if I have a felony that was nonviolent?
The word “nonviolent” does not itself erase § 922(g)(1). Some states use offense type in restoration law, and federal appellate courts disagree on some as-applied Second Amendment challenges. Range, Williams, Diaz, Duarte, Zherka, Vincent, and other recent cases are therefore important.
Use the state page for the second half of the answer
Gun Felony has an individual page for every state and the District of Columbia showing the state restoration framework, selected acquisition/carry rules, and direct links to official law.
Use the 50-state directory
Firearm eligibility is unusually dependent on jurisdiction. Review the individual page for every state and the District of Columbia for restoration rules, carry and acquisition policy comparisons, official code links, and state-specific keyword FAQs.
Read the major court cases
Current firearm law is changing through litigation. The 25-case library covers Bruen, Rahimi, Hemani, Wolford, recent § 922(g)(1) circuit cases, ACCA sentencing, purchaser licensing, sensitive places, magazine limits, ghost guns, age limits, and other decisions affecting the answer.