What This Article Is
This article explains how federal firearm law works after conviction. It covers conflicts between federal and state restoration laws. It explains possession risk and prosecution reality. This is not legal advice. This is eligibility and risk documentation.
How Federal Firearm Law Works After Conviction
Federal law prohibits firearm possession after any felony conviction. Federal law prohibits firearm possession after domestic violence misdemeanors. These prohibitions are permanent under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). No time limit exists. No automatic restoration occurs.
Federal law applies in all fifty states. It applies regardless of state law. It overrides state restoration orders.
How State Restoration Conflicts With Federal Law
Some states restore firearm eligibility after sentence completion. Those restoration orders apply to state law only. They do not remove federal prohibitions. State permission and federal legality are separate systems.
Federal law does not recognize state restoration in most cases. Only a federal pardon removes federal firearm restrictions. Federal pardons are extremely rare.
Why State Permission Still Leads to Federal Charges
People receive state restoration and believe they can possess firearms. They cannot. Federal law enforcement prosecutes firearm possession by prohibited persons. State restoration documents are not valid defenses in federal court.
ATF agents enforce federal law regardless of state orders. Possession under state permission still triggers federal felony charges. Conviction carries five to ten years in federal prison.
Non-Firearm Weapons Still Create Legal Risk
Black powder firearms are not exempt from federal prohibitions. Antique replicas fall under federal law if they fire projectiles. Air rifles and pellet guns may trigger violations depending on design. Crossbows and compound bows do not violate federal firearm law.
Some states classify crossbows and knives as dangerous weapons. Those states prohibit possession by violent felony offenders. Federal exemption does not guarantee state legality. State definitions of prohibited weapons vary by jurisdiction.
Knives with blade lengths over legal limits create state violations. Those violations can trigger new felony charges. New felony charges extend federal firearm prohibitions.
Why Law Enforcement Does Not Interpret Gray Areas
Officers arrest on possession first. Legal arguments happen in court, not at arrest. Officers see a weapon and a prohibited person. That combination creates arrest and charges.
Law enforcement does not assess restoration documents during encounters. They check databases that show federal prohibition status. Those databases control enforcement decisions.
How Possession Mistakes Escalate Fast
Constructive possession laws apply to firearms in vehicles or homes. You do not need to touch a weapon to face charges. Being near a weapon others possess creates legal exposure. Prohibited persons in homes with weapons face prosecution risk.
One possession charge creates a new felony conviction. That conviction extends all federal restrictions permanently. The cycle repeats.
What This Means in Practice
Federal firearm law overrides state restoration in all cases. State permission does not eliminate federal prosecution risk. Possession creates immediate felony exposure. Non-firearm weapons still create legal risk under state and federal laws. Law enforcement enforces federal restrictions regardless of state documents. Possession mistakes lead to federal charges and prison time. Federal prohibition is permanent without a federal pardon.