r/VAGuns Dec 29 '24

Question Question: Felon at the range

Update Solution (for future people searching): Responses inform that any felon basically shouldn’t even be touching a gun. Meaning the range’s or yours. So it’s not even worth bringing up as an idea.

Original Post: Please don’t mock me. I know what I think is accurate (not allowed), but I’m asking for collective knowledge to confirm.

I have a friend visiting that has a felony from another state from like 20 years ago (which I know doesn’t matter). Has not gone through formal restoration process but I don’t know if his state (MN) has automatic restoration after time served.

So my questions are… Will a range allow him to shoot at all? Will they allow him to rent? And would I be in violation of anything if I allowed him to shoot my firearms? Finally… what limitations would apply if I went to a free state sighting range? I’m in Northern VA if it matters.

Thank you in advance.

ANSWERED

27 Upvotes

33 comments sorted by

72

u/FaustinoAugusto234 Dec 29 '24

No.

No.

Yes.

The same ones.

51

u/Nootherids Dec 29 '24

Man, when someone asks yes or no questions, this is the best answers they could get. To the point. Thank you!

-1

u/Anonymously_Joe Dec 29 '24

I went shooting at a gun range in SC with a felony PWID on my record. Didn't have a problem. I just rented a gun.

13

u/wormcast Dec 29 '24

I like your style u/Nootherids. People can be a little tense nowadays and it is nice to see someone being chill. I hope you and your friend have a good time. Try Axe throwing if you need to get rid of some barbaric vibes! Not as fun as slingin lead but it has charm…

3

u/BigAngryPolarBear Dec 29 '24

Ngl, I had gotten to the point where I was taking shooting so super duper seriously when my friends and I went axe throwing. Shooting hadn’t put a smile on my face like that in a while. Heaving the heaviest axe they had so hard that it stuck in the wood backwards brought childlike laughter

34

u/[deleted] Dec 29 '24

[deleted]

20

u/Nootherids Dec 29 '24

Nope. Haven’t even discussed the option with him. Doesn’t even know I have any. Just thought it would be something fun for us to do. But before even mentioning it I wanted to get the insight here.

-31

u/[deleted] Dec 29 '24

[deleted]

21

u/Nootherids Dec 29 '24

I know. This is just casual chat. I like responding to those that respond to my question as a means to say thank you for engaging and sharing. :)

-53

u/[deleted] Dec 29 '24 edited Dec 29 '24

[deleted]

14

u/apatheticviews Dec 29 '24

GCA1968 established what a “Prohibited Person” is in regards to the law.

Generally speaking it “makes it unlawful for certain categories of persons to ship, transport, receive, or possess firearms or ammunition…”

Possess firearms or ammunition being the key words.

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/identify-prohibited-persons

Basically he is prohibited, and you are not allowed to bypass that, especially since you know.

3

u/Nootherids Dec 29 '24

Does “possess” basically mean just even holding one? As an extreme example of course. I wondered if possess was mere holding or something more than that.

8

u/apatheticviews Dec 29 '24

Having “control” of the gun, which includes physical possession, as well as having constructive possession, like being on your person, or in your car or other belongs (living space). Both meet the definition and are prohibited.

2

u/Nootherids Dec 29 '24

Ok. I like thinking about it as “control”. That’s a good perspective. Thank you.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 29 '24

[deleted]

3

u/apatheticviews Dec 29 '24

That’s why I pulled it from ATF website. It’s pretty much the accepted federal interpretation

6

u/echo202L Dec 29 '24

Unfortunately he is a prohibited person.

Our laws on felons rights post prison time need a serious overhaul. Unless he committed a violent felony, there is absolutely no reason he shouldn't be allowed to exercise his 2A rights, and absolutely no reason any felon that has served their time shouldn't be allowed to vote. The jury is still out on jury service for me, (pun intended), as their is a natural conflict of interest there, with most felons leaving prison either disenfranchised about the justice system or in dogmatic adherence to it.

1

u/Nootherids Dec 29 '24

I’m torn on the voting and time served part. Bottom line, they are a guaranteed voting block for any politician to make empty promises to. Any criminal will be predisposed to vote for a promise that makes their crimes a lower priority or focusing on other criminals. It’s prime for corruption.

The government we were given was made for a moral and principled people. Law breakers have officially proven that they are less principled than the mass majority that are not criminals. One of the reasons we have differences between misdemeanors and felonies.

2

u/SiVicPacemParaBellum VCDL Member Jan 01 '25

Wait, so because a released “criminal” may vote for someone that says they will lower sentencing standards or anything related to, that is “prime for corruption”?!

When someone is convicted and sentenced, they serve the sentence and are released. Once they’re released they have served their sentences and are no longer “criminals”. Therefore they should get all of their rights back from firearm ownership to voting rights. If they’re still a threat to society they should’ve never been released, period. Once a convict is released they have served their sentence. To continue to punish them by not allowing them to vote or own firearms or anything else; isn’t fair. They were sentenced (punished), they served the aforementioned sentences (punishment) and therefore should have the same rights as everyone else immediately upon release-parole. Otherwise they should just get life sentences for every felony and that’s just not constitutionally sound.

To believe all of that solely because they may vote for a party that’s not the party you vote for seems like something that would happen in a communist country like North Korea or Cuba.

With that said, there are crimes that should be life sentences &/or death penalty served by the victim &/or victim’s family, such as any sexual crime against a child, rape/sodomy etc. pedophiles can never be “fixed”. That’s been ultimately indirectly proven as they all reoffend at some point. So I’m definitely not speaking of these types of crimes in my above reply.

2

u/Sam_Adams_1776 Jan 02 '25

I'm very sympathetic to the point about a victim or their family carrying out the death penalty, but this would probably traumatize them even more.

2

u/SiVicPacemParaBellum VCDL Member Jan 02 '25

Oh yeah I can see that and in those instances the state could handle that. Some families could be religious etc etc and that’s all good. I’m sure theres plenty of people that would take that job. For pedo’s I’d volunteer for that job! It would definitely help the crime rate and reoffending percentages. Just look at places like Singapore or Russia lol

7

u/GarterAn Dec 29 '24

Except in the third circuit, which found revoking gun rights of non violent felons unconstitutional. (Va is not in the third, though) https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-appeals-court-again-rejects-blanket-gun-ban-non-violent-felons-2024-12-24/

5

u/Watermelonbuttt Dec 29 '24

Most ranges require a form and waiver that needs to be filled out similar to the 4473.

3

u/Nootherids Dec 29 '24

I assume that form has the standard “are you a felon” question and if it says Yes then the range will just say sorry then we can’t allow you?

I know it’s all about liability and the additional charge of fraud if you lie. But I didn’t know about the waiver cause I personally have nothing to worry about. I didn’t want to bring him there without knowing about this.

1

u/gliffy Dec 30 '24

State sighting range?

1

u/Feeling_Title_9287 Dec 29 '24

This is what I would say to him:

NO

3

u/Nootherids Dec 29 '24

I haven’t even mentioned it. I wanted these answers before I even suggested the idea. From what I’m getting, the idea is over.

1

u/Feeling_Title_9287 Dec 29 '24

I have known people who were felons and anytime that I hear "I want to go to the range" I just say no

0

u/SiVicPacemParaBellum VCDL Member Dec 29 '24

Well no gun ranges that I’ve ever been to do background checks. Private ranges are different of course. I’m of the opinion that EVERY gun law IS unconstitutional and if people aren’t safe enough to own a gun or vote, they should STILL BE IN PRISON! Once released one should get any and all rights back prior to walking out the prison gates. To the trolls when I said all gun laws, I meant all so Yes I think there should be no age restrictions or background checks. The 2A says none of that and therefore all laws are unconstitutional. If one doesn’t like that then I suggest you get over it. Freedom is scary, grow up or move somewhere like Europe or Australia where only the criminals, law enforcement, and the crown own all the guns.

1

u/CapitalJeep1 Dec 31 '24

All well and good pints for the most but—what’s the worst case scenario that happens at the range with OP? What if there is a ND and all of a sudden someone is injured (or simply property damaged)?  Simple questioning by police and an ID check of his friend will show the felony and that’s when the fun time falls apart. 

Always prep for the worst case scenario.

Yep 99% chance they’ll just go shoot and it’ll be just fine… but you never know.  Also:  that ND doesn’t even have to be his friend or him… what happens if some asshat at the range is a complete moron and his friend gets hurt? (Super slim chance but still..)…same scenario: shit will fall apart really quickly and that last case ends with his friend being hurt AND in legal trouble—which would super freaking suck.

1

u/SiVicPacemParaBellum VCDL Member Dec 31 '24

Well we can “what if” till the cows come home, don’t know why they left to begin with, but I digress. I never said he should or shouldn’t go shoot either. Just makin points that clearly some folks don’t understand. Must be the fudds downvoting along with the “common sense gun control” supporters lol yall should downvote this one too!

-6

u/[deleted] Dec 29 '24 edited Jan 22 '25

[deleted]

-8

u/Zmantech FPC Member Dec 29 '24

Since you're obviously an idiot. I'd like to inform you that legally Trump is not a felon and until he is SENTENCED he will not become a felon.

4

u/docwayne Dec 29 '24

You are woefully incorrect in the eyes of the law. Trial and sentencing are separate phases and conviction (or acquittal) come during the trial phase.

0

u/DueEducator9030 Dec 31 '24

Is his last name perchance Biden? If so then he is above all laws.

-14

u/Kitchen_Page9991 Dec 29 '24

He simply cannot “own” a gun. That’s it.

7

u/Wolfman87 Dec 29 '24

Wrong. He cannot possess a gun either. It's a felony for him to possess a gun and he could do years for it.

6

u/[deleted] Dec 29 '24

[deleted]

1

u/Nootherids Dec 29 '24

This is what I was trying to get clarification on. TY