Gun FelonyFirearm law encyclopedia
State laws · Cases · History · Federal · FAQ

Gun Felony entry

Indiana Gun Laws for Felony Convictions and Gun Rights Restoration

Last reviewed: 2026-08-28Topic: State Gun Laws
Quick answer

A felony firearm question in Indiana requires both Indiana law and federal law. Check the exact conviction, the current state possession/restoration rules, and whether 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) still creates an independent federal prohibition.

This encyclopedia entry explains Indiana gun laws for people researching felony convictions, prohibited-person rules, firearm purchases and carry, and restoration of gun rights. It uses current nationwide comparison sources but links readers to the official Indiana code because the controlling statute always governs.

Federal overlay: A person can satisfy Indiana law and still be prohibited by 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). A state permit, expungement, pardon, passage of time, or restoration order should never be assumed to remove a separate federal disability.

Can a felon own a gun in Indiana?

State-law summary: Indiana restricts firearm possession for people with felony convictions, with restoration routes that vary by offense. Some less serious convictions can be addressed through expungement or pardon; serious violent felony disabilities are substantially harder to remove. Indiana also provides a petition route for some misdemeanor domestic-violence firearm disabilities after a waiting period.

Indiana is permitless-carry for qualifying adults, but conviction-based disqualifications still apply.

The federal question is separate. 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) generally prohibits firearm and ammunition possession after a qualifying conviction, while 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) provides a federal relief route. The effect of state relief can also require analysis under § 921(a)(20).

Indiana firearm-law snapshot

Jurisdiction Indiana (IN)
Felony / restoration summary Indiana restricts firearm possession for people with felony convictions, with restoration routes that vary by offense. Some less serious convictions can be addressed through expungement or pardon; serious violent felony disabilities are substantially harder to remove. Indiana also provides a petition route for some misdemeanor domestic-violence firearm disabilities after a waiting period.
Concealed carry framework Permitless carry for many qualifying adults; eligibility/location exceptions still apply.
Private-sale background checks No broad statewide universal-background-check rule covering every private firearm transfer; federal dealer rules still apply.
Purchaser permit / licensing No general purchaser-license system identified for all ordinary firearm acquisitions; other eligibility checks still apply.
Extreme-risk order law Yes — the jurisdiction has an extreme-risk / firearm-removal order process.
Waiting period No broad statewide waiting period identified for ordinary firearm purchases.
Assault-style weapon restrictions No broad statewide assault-weapon ban identified in the current comparison.
Large-capacity magazine restrictions No broad statewide magazine-capacity limit identified in the current comparison.
Privately made / ghost-gun rules No broad statewide ghost-gun statute identified in the current comparison; federal rules still apply.

Policy comparisons summarize broad statewide rules and exceptions. They are not a substitute for the current statute, implementing regulations, litigation status, local rules, or a person’s eligibility.

Official Indiana gun-law sources

What is unique about Indiana?

Indiana is permitless-carry for qualifying adults, but conviction-based disqualifications still apply. The table above also shows how Indiana compares on concealed carry, private-sale background checks, purchase licensing, extreme-risk orders, waiting periods, assault-style weapons, magazine capacity, and privately made firearms. Each of those rules has exceptions and definitions that should be verified in the official code.

How to get gun rights back after a felony in Indiana

  1. Get the exact record. Obtain the judgment, charging statute, offense classification, sentence, discharge date, and every later court or clemency order.
  2. Apply the Indiana restoration rule. Determine whether the state uses automatic restoration, a waiting period, court petition, pardon, expungement/set-aside, certificate, or another mechanism.
  3. Check exclusions. Violent, dangerous, weapons, drug, domestic-violence, sex, repeat, or other listed convictions can follow different rules.
  4. Run the federal analysis. Determine whether § 922(g)(1), § 922(g)(8), § 922(g)(9), or another federal category still applies.
  5. Resolve federal relief if necessary. Review the DOJ § 925(c) restoration program when the federal disability remains.

Purchase, carry and possession are different questions

A state may allow permitless carry for qualifying adults while still prohibiting a particular person from possessing firearms. Conversely, a state may require purchase permits, waiting periods, background checks or concealed-carry licenses even after a person’s conviction-based disability has been removed. Restoration does not waive ordinary firearm regulations.

Recent court cases that may affect the analysis

Modern Second Amendment litigation is changing quickly. Bruen changed the constitutional test; Rahimi clarified the historical-analogue method; Range, Williams, Diaz, Duarte, Zherka, Vincent, and Dubois show differing appellate approaches to felony firearm challenges; and the Supreme Court’s 2026 Hemani decision narrowed § 922(g)(3) without deciding § 922(g)(1). See the case library for full entries.

Frequently asked questions

Can a felon own a gun in Indiana?

Indiana restricts firearm possession for people with felony convictions, with restoration routes that vary by offense. Some less serious convictions can be addressed through expungement or pardon; serious violent felony disabilities are substantially harder to remove. Indiana also provides a petition route for some misdemeanor domestic-violence firearm disabilities after a waiting period. Separately, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) can prohibit firearm and ammunition possession after a qualifying conviction even when state law is less restrictive.

Can you own a gun with a felony in Indiana?

Do not rely on the word felony or the passage of time alone. Review the exact conviction, Indiana restoration law, any pardon or record relief, and the federal definition in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20).

Can I own a gun if I have a felony in Indiana?

The answer is record-specific. Indiana restricts firearm possession for people with felony convictions, with restoration routes that vary by offense. Some less serious convictions can be addressed through expungement or pardon; serious violent felony disabilities are substantially harder to remove. Indiana also provides a petition route for some misdemeanor domestic-violence firearm disabilities after a waiting period. Federal law can remain a separate barrier until the conviction no longer counts federally or valid federal relief applies.

Can you buy a gun with a felony in Indiana?

A person who remains prohibited under federal or Indiana law cannot lawfully acquire a firearm merely because a transaction is attempted or a background-check response is delayed or mistaken. The legal disability controls.

How to get gun rights back after felony in Indiana?

Start with the judgment and discharge records, then identify the state restoration mechanism. Indiana restricts firearm possession for people with felony convictions, with restoration routes that vary by offense. Some less serious convictions can be addressed through expungement or pardon; serious violent felony disabilities are substantially harder to remove. Indiana also provides a petition route for some misdemeanor domestic-violence firearm disabilities after a waiting period. After state relief, separately determine whether federal § 922(g) still applies or whether § 925(c) relief is needed.

Do non violent felony gun rights come back in Indiana?

A nonviolent label does not create a universal exception. Indiana may distinguish offense types in its restoration rules, but federal § 922(g)(1) is not limited on its face to violent felonies and current circuit case law can matter.

What does a felony gun charge mean in Indiana?

It can refer to a state felon-in-possession offense, another firearm crime charged as a felony, or a federal § 922(g) prosecution. The charging statute, alleged possession, prior record, and jurisdiction determine the elements and penalties.

Is domestic violence a felony in Indiana, and can it affect gun rights?

Domestic-violence offenses can be misdemeanors or felonies depending on Indiana law and the facts. A qualifying felony can trigger § 922(g)(1), a qualifying misdemeanor crime of domestic violence can trigger § 922(g)(9), and certain restraining orders can trigger § 922(g)(8).

Is a DUI a felony in Indiana, and can it affect gun rights?

DUI can be a misdemeanor or felony depending on prior offenses and aggravating facts. A qualifying felony DUI can trigger federal § 922(g)(1), and Indiana may impose additional firearm or licensing consequences for specified DUI history.

Is pointing a gun at someone a felony in Indiana?

It can be, but the answer depends on intent, justification, relationship, injuries, and the Indiana statutes for assault, aggravated assault, menacing, brandishing or unlawful display, and reckless endangerment. A resulting felony or qualifying domestic-violence misdemeanor can create a firearm disability.

Can a felon go to a gun range in Indiana?

A shooting range is not a general exception to prohibited-person law. Handling, receiving, shooting, or controlling a firearm or ammunition can constitute possession even if the range owns the firearm.

Sources and legal references

This page is general legal information, not individualized legal advice. Laws, court decisions, regulations and agency procedures can change.