Published in Criminal Law by Chris Eskew on March 15, 2024.
Can a convicted felon go to a gun range? Legally, no. 18 U.S. Code § 922 – Legally, felons may have restrictions on visiting gun ranges.
While some states allow convicted felons to retain certain firearms rights for recreational shooting at a range, it’s essential to check the laws of your specific state.
Conducting a criminal background check is typically required for range access, which can be initiated with basic personal information such as name, address, and date of birth. However, having a social security number may facilitate the process.
If you were once a convicted felon and have questions about going to a shooting range or owning a firearm in Indiana, please reach out to the Indianapolis criminal defense lawyers at Eskew Law.
Visitar un campo de tiro, ¿podría acabar en la cárcel?
Simply put, felons lose their gun rights upon conviction, as well as many other civil rights. You do not have to own a gun to violate laws against possession.
You just have to exercise control of one. So, even renting or borrowing a gun to use at the shooting range is illegal if you have a felony conviction. It is not worth the risk to go to a gun range if you have a felony conviction.
Law enforcement who may be at the range for their own purposes could recognize you, or the gun range could become suspicious of you and call the police. If you are a felon and go to a shooting range, you could end up in prison.
¿Puede un delincuente condenado recuperar sus derechos sobre las armas en Indiana?
Yes. The government will restore your gun rights if you go through a process known as expungement. Expungement is the procedure for getting a felony removed from your record.
Although the record of it still technically exists, it is as if the felony did not happen. As a result, expungements can exponentially improve the quality of your life.
Criterios de elegibilidad y pasos para la eliminación de antecedentes penales para restaurar los derechos de armas en Indiana
Generalmente, usted cumple con los requisitos para la eliminación de antecedentes penales en Indiana si cumple con los requisitos del período de espera y no es condenado por un delito durante el período de espera.
You cannot receive an expungement if your felony conviction was for homicide or voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
A person classified as a sex or violent offender under Indiana law is not eligible for expungement. In addition, convictions for two or more separate incidents involving the use of deadly weapons will disqualify you from expungement.
There are different waiting periods and conditions based on the seriousness of the felony conviction. For most Class D or level 6 felonies, the waiting period is eight years from the date of conviction.
For other non-serious felonies, the waiting period is also eight years, although it must have been at least three years since the end of your sentence.
Serious felonies have a ten-year waiting period, and it must have been at least five years since you completed your sentence.
Otros requisitos son:
- Pagar las costas judiciales, las multas y la restitución;
- No tener ningún cargo pendiente contra usted; y
- No tener condenas adicionales durante el periodo de espera.
En el caso de un delito grave, el abogado de la acusación también debe dar su consentimiento por escrito a la cancelación de antecedentes penales.
Eskew Law puede ayudarle a navegar el proceso si usted cree que puede calificar para un expungement. Debe ponerse en contacto con nosotros inmediatamente para discutir cómo tener una condena por delito grave expurgado.
¿Cuándo puede un delincuente recuperar el derecho a llevar un arma en Indiana? ¿Y un rifle?
Un delincuente sólo puede volver a portar una pistola o un rifle cuando un tribunal anule su condena.
Sin la eliminación de antecedentes penales, la persona condenada por un delito grave no podrá volver a poseer legalmente un arma de fuego.
¿Puede ir a un campo de tiro si tiene un delito grave borrado en Indiana?
If your felony gets expunged, federal law no longer prohibits you from carrying a firearm (unless you have other felonies that aren’t expunged).
However, Indiana law may still limit your right to carry a gun if you committed a crime involving domestic violence.
An expungement will not automatically restore your right to carry a gun in this instance. Instead, you must go through a separate restoration process, which requires the court to consider facts related to domestic violence.
To make sure everything is in order, it’s a good idea to consult with your attorney before going to a shooting range in Indiana again.
¿Se comprueban los antecedentes en las armerías de Indiana? ¿Por qué piden identificación?
Generally, gun ranges do not run background checks. But even if they do not, you likely must complete a waiver form. This waiver form will ask about your criminal history.
Lying on this form is a bad idea. Suppose, for some reason, your felony history is discovered, and there is evidence that you are or were at a gun range. In that case, it can lead to further criminal conviction.
El campo de tiro puede pedir el DNI por varias razones. Pueden comprobar los requisitos de edad o anotar información clave si algo sale mal.
Si usted es un delincuente condenado, debe mantenerse alejado de los campos de tiro hasta que reciba una cancelación de antecedentes penales y confirme con su abogado que sus derechos de armas han sido restaurados.
¿Busca Restaurar sus Derechos de Armas? Contacte Eskew Law Hoy.
Do you want to be able to possess a firearm and visit shooting ranges? At Eskew Law, our skilled and experienced expungement lawyers can bring back your full gun rights. We routinely receive high ratings from our clients due to our service.
We pride ourselves on our reliability, accessibility, and trustworthiness, and we strive to simplify the legal process for you. Please contact us today to discuss how the expungement process works.