Gun-rights restoration is difficult because two sovereign systems can regulate the same person at the same time.
State law controls state disabilities
Each state decides which convictions prohibit firearm possession under its own law and what pardon, expungement, waiting period, court petition or automatic restoration may remove that prohibition.
Federal law separately controls § 922(g)
Federal eligibility must be analyzed under §§ 921 and 922. A state restoration can matter to a state conviction, but its federal effect depends on § 921(a)(20) and related case law.
Federal convictions are a separate category
A governor, state court or state restoration certificate generally cannot change a federal conviction. Federal pardon, statutory relief or the DOJ § 925(c) process may be relevant.
The safest order of analysis
Identify every conviction by sovereign, determine state relief, determine federal effect, check other prohibited-person categories, and verify current records before possession or purchase.
How to research your own record
- Get the judgment, charging statute and sentencing/discharge records.
- Identify the exact state and federal firearm disabilities that may apply.
- Verify whether any expungement, pardon, set-aside or restoration order changes the conviction for firearm-law purposes.
- Check current statutes and controlling appellate decisions before possessing, receiving or purchasing a firearm or ammunition.
Use the 50-state + D.C. directory, the § 922(g) guide, and the federal restoration guide for the next layer of research.