Can a convicted felon own a gun after 10 years in Massachusetts?
Asked by: Mr. Brett Stiedemann | Last update: March 16, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (73 votes)
In Massachusetts, a felony conviction generally leads to an indefinite ban on gun ownership, and waiting 10 years does not automatically restore rights; you must petition the court for restoration, with a pardon from the Governor being a primary path, especially for serious offenses, requiring a lawyer's help to navigate complex state and federal laws.
Can a felon get his gun rights back in Massachusetts?
The primary path to restoring gun rights after a felony conviction is through a pardon by the Governor of Massachusetts.
How many years after a felony can you get a gun?
There's no universal time limit for owning a gun after a felony; it depends heavily on federal, state, and local laws, with some states offering restoration after 5-10 years for certain crimes, while others impose lifetime bans, especially for violent felonies or domestic violence offenses, though pardons or expungements might help restore rights. Federal law prohibits gun possession for life after a felony, but states can provide pathways to regain rights, often requiring completion of sentence, probation, and sometimes a waiting period, such as 5 years in Texas for some felonies, or after 10 years in Louisiana, but never for certain violent crimes.
Can a felon get a LTC in Massachusetts?
For example, if you have a prior conviction for any of the following, you will not qualify for either a FID or LTC: A felony; A drug crime; A violent crime; or.
Does a felony go away after 7 years in Massachusetts?
Sealing conviction records
You can ask to seal a criminal record under these circumstances: Misdemeanor — 3 years after you were found guilty or after any jail or prison time, whichever date is later. Felony — 7 years after you were found guilty or after any jail or prison time, whichever date is later.
Can felons own guns? New Justice Department plan could restore rights | Morning in America
How much does it cost to expunge a felony in Massachusetts?
Fees. There is no fee to request to seal your criminal record.
How much does it cost to restore your gun rights?
Restoring gun rights costs anywhere from under $100 for simple state-level filings to several thousand dollars, depending heavily on your state, the complexity of your case (type of conviction), and whether you hire a lawyer. Costs include potential application/filing fees (e.g., $50-$500+), attorney fees (ranging from $1,000 to $5,000+ for complex cases), and additional costs for court fees or obtaining necessary documents, with federal cases or pardon applications often costing more.
What states can a convicted felon own a gun?
Generally, a convicted felon cannot own a gun due to federal law, but some states offer paths to restoration, with Vermont being a major exception where there are no state-level restrictions, while others like North Carolina and Oregon have specific conditions, such as pardons or certain offenses, allowing potential rights restoration, but the federal ban typically remains unless rights are restored at the state level or through a pardon. Federal law bans possession for anyone convicted of a crime punishable by over a year in prison, but this prohibition can be lifted if the state where the felony occurred restores the individual's civil rights, often through a pardon or expungement, though many states have their own separate prohibitions.
What disqualifies you from owning a gun in MA?
Massachusetts Gun Laws and Disqualifiers
Those who have been convicted of a felony or as a youthful offender adjudicated in the commission of a felony. Those who have been convicted of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for more than two years.
How does a felon restore their rights?
A person convicted of a felony loses the rights to vote, to run for state office, and to sit on a jury. After a first felony conviction, these rights are restored automatically upon completion of sentence if all restitution has been paid. (Unlike unpaid restitution, unpaid fines do not affect restoration of rights.)
How far back does a background check go for a gun?
A gun background check, run through the FBI's NICS system, generally looks back about five years for recent drug use or addiction, but for serious crimes like felonies, the prohibition is often permanent, while other disqualifiers (like domestic violence restraining orders) can be temporary. The check pulls from various databases (including FBI's IAFIS), so while recent activity is key, a criminal history, even older, can still trigger a denial if it makes you federally prohibited.
When did felons lose the right to own guns?
It became federally illegal for a convicted felon to own a gun under the Gun Control Act of 1968, which prohibited individuals convicted of crimes punishable by over a year in prison from possessing firearms, building on earlier laws. While a 1934 law initially restricted violent felons, the 1968 Act expanded this ban to all felons under federal law, with subsequent laws like the Lautenberg Amendment (1996) adding domestic abusers.
How do I know if my gun rights are restored?
If you are concerned about how else to find out if your gun rights have been restored, you should know the authorities can provide the information. Based on the cause for the revocation and the jurisdiction, you can contact your local law enforcement, state licensing authorities, or court clerks to verify the status.
What crimes cannot be expunged in Massachusetts?
Sex offenses not eligible. Cannot seal or expunge violent or sex-related misdemeanors, violation of a protection order, and prostitution. No provisions for expunging adult conviction records. An offender whose conviction has been vacated may state for all purposes that he or she has not been convicted of that crime.
Can a pardoned felon purchase a gun?
A presidential pardon can restore federal firearm rights for a felony conviction. A felon can also regain the right to own a firearm if their conviction was expunged, set aside, or their civil rights were restored. A governor can pardon felon and civil rights restoration may restore the right to own a firearm.
How can I get my record expunged for free in Massachusetts?
To expunge your record, you'll need to fill out the Petition to Expunge Form. If you want, you can also provide additional information to support your petition. The process is free.
What is the background check for owning a gun?
Buying a gun in the U.S. requires a federal background check through the FBI's NICS system for sales by licensed dealers, involving filling out ATF Form 4473 to verify you're not a prohibited person (like a felon or subject to domestic violence orders), but private sales often bypass these checks unless state law requires them. The dealer submits your info for a "proceed," "denied," or "delayed" decision, ensuring compliance before the firearm transfers.
Why are glocks banned in MA?
Glock handguns and pistols are not banned in Massachusetts; however, Glock does not sell firearms directly to Massachusetts consumers. That is because the guns do not conform with a myriad of Massachusetts safety requirements. On the other hand, Glock does sell to other entities in the state of Massachusetts.
What is the most gun-friendly state?
There isn't one single "most" gun-friendly state, as rankings vary, but New Hampshire, West Virginia, Montana, Arkansas, and South Dakota consistently appear at the top for lenient laws, permitless carry (constitutional carry), and lack of sales tax on firearms, with strong protections like "stand-your-ground" laws. These states offer broad rights for lawful gun owners, with New Hampshire often cited as #1 due to its combination of permitless carry for ages 18+, no sales tax, and self-defense protections.
What is the most felon-friendly state?
The most friendly state for felons is Vermont, where no felons are disenfranchised and no voting restrictions.
What is considered a firearm for a felon?
A firearm, as defined by 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)(4), is made when a handgun or other weapon with an overall length of less than 26 inches, or a barrel or barrels of less than 16 inches in length, is assembled or produced from a weapon originally assembled or produced only as a rifle.
In what states can felons get their gun rights back?
Several states, including Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, and South Dakota, offer paths for felons to regain gun rights, often automatically or via petition after waiting periods (5-15 years post-sentence), though processes vary significantly, with some states like Texas restoring home possession rights automatically, while Wyoming restores rights for nonviolent felonies after five years, highlighting diverse state approaches to firearm rights restoration.
What is the Fresh Start Act 2025?
Introduced in Senate (07/31/2025) To establish a grant program for States for purposes of modernizing criminal justice data infrastructure to facilitate automatic record expungement and sealing, and for other purposes.
Can I give my son one of my guns?
Yes. However, persons less than 18 years of age may only receive and possess handguns with the written permission of a parent or guardian for limited purposes, e.g., employment, ranching, farming, target practice or hunting.