Stealth Potato
Regular Member
imported post
First, a little background:
For about the last 30 years, my dad has been unable to possess firearms because of a felony conviction for check forgery (back when he was young, reckless, and most importantly, very poor
). At the time he owned a Colt Sporter AR-15, which he was obliged to give to his parents to sell, and in the three decades since, he hasn't so much as touched a gun.
Well, finally, last month I told him that I wanted to buy him another AR-15 for Father's Day, and I did some poking around to see if there was a way to have his firearms disabilities removed.
I'm sure most of you know that the federal petition process has been underhandedly blocked by congress since 1992, but the federal restriction (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000922----000-.html#g18 USC §922(g)) does not apply if the conviction has been expunged, or if the individual has had civil rights restored. We know that after my dad served a couple months in jail, and after he completed probation, the conviction was set aside, and he has been able to vote since then. He actually still has the original paperwork, though we're not legally knowledgeable enough to really know what any of it means.
Now, Washington State has a similar restriction on possession, but after reading that law (RCW 9.41.040) it seems to me that felony forgery does not meet the statutory definition of a "serious crime".
So, long story short, we think it might be the case that he's been legally able to possess firearms for a long time now (wouldn't it just figure?), but we will need a solid legal opinion on this before taking any action.
So, I'm asking you guys: do any of you know of a good attorney, well-versed preferably in both Washington State and federal firearms law? We've decided it's well worth forking over an attorney's fees to finally learn the truth one way or another.
Thanks!
First, a little background:
For about the last 30 years, my dad has been unable to possess firearms because of a felony conviction for check forgery (back when he was young, reckless, and most importantly, very poor
). At the time he owned a Colt Sporter AR-15, which he was obliged to give to his parents to sell, and in the three decades since, he hasn't so much as touched a gun.Well, finally, last month I told him that I wanted to buy him another AR-15 for Father's Day, and I did some poking around to see if there was a way to have his firearms disabilities removed.
I'm sure most of you know that the federal petition process has been underhandedly blocked by congress since 1992, but the federal restriction (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000922----000-.html#g18 USC §922(g)) does not apply if the conviction has been expunged, or if the individual has had civil rights restored. We know that after my dad served a couple months in jail, and after he completed probation, the conviction was set aside, and he has been able to vote since then. He actually still has the original paperwork, though we're not legally knowledgeable enough to really know what any of it means.
Now, Washington State has a similar restriction on possession, but after reading that law (RCW 9.41.040) it seems to me that felony forgery does not meet the statutory definition of a "serious crime".
So, long story short, we think it might be the case that he's been legally able to possess firearms for a long time now (wouldn't it just figure?
), but we will need a solid legal opinion on this before taking any action.So, I'm asking you guys: do any of you know of a good attorney, well-versed preferably in both Washington State and federal firearms law? We've decided it's well worth forking over an attorney's fees to finally learn the truth one way or another.
Thanks!
