August 21, 2026 | Gun Laws
Federal law has long allowed certain people subject to federal firearm restrictions to seek relief under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c). However, the application process was effectively unavailable to individuals for decades after Congress stopped funding the agency responsible for processing applications.
The new Federal Firearm Rights Restoration (FFRR) program creates a working application process administered through the Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney. Once implemented, individuals subject to federal firearm restrictions will again have a formal process for requesting relief.
Does the New Federal Process Automatically Restore Firearm Rights?
The FFRR program gives eligible individuals an opportunity to apply for relief. Filing an application does not restore firearm rights, and approval is not guaranteed.
The Attorney General must be satisfied that the applicant is not likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety and that granting relief is consistent with the public interest. Applications are considered individually based on the applicant’s history and circumstances.
If relief is granted, the applicant’s name and the date of the grant will be published in the Federal Register.
Who Can Apply for Federal Firearm Rights Restoration?
The FFRR program allows people prohibited from possessing firearms under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) to apply for relief. This includes people prohibited because of:
- A felony conviction
- Fugitive status
- Unlawful use of or addiction to a controlled substance
- Certain mental health adjudications or commitments
- Unlawful or non-immigrant immigration status
- A dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces
- Renunciation of U.S. citizenship
- Certain domestic violence restraining orders
- A misdemeanor domestic violence conviction
Being allowed to apply does not mean relief will be granted. The DOJ considers the applicant’s history, circumstances, and any applicable presumptions against relief.
What Can Prevent Someone From Qualifying for Federal Firearm Rights Restoration?
The FFRR program uses presumptive disqualifiers that can make it more difficult to obtain relief. These include:
- Certain serious felony convictions that carry a permanent presumption
- Certain drug trafficking, firearm, explosives, and domestic violence convictions that carry a 10-year presumption
- Most other felony convictions and certain violent misdemeanors that carry a five-year presumption
- Certain current circumstances, such as still serving a sentence, that carry a presumption while they continue
- Certain prior denials that carry a waiting period before reapplication
A presumptive disqualifier does not necessarily prevent someone from applying. An applicant may overcome a presumption by establishing extraordinary circumstances.
What Does the Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Application Require?
Applicants must provide records that allow the DOJ to evaluate their criminal history, background, and current circumstances. Depending on the applicant, required materials may include:
- Court records for qualifying convictions
- Statewide criminal history records
- Fingerprints
- Affidavits from three references
- Records showing completion of applicable sentences
- Authorization for a background investigation
Applicants must disclose qualifying convictions even if they were expunged, pardoned, or set aside. Once an applicant begins the online application, the DOJ provides a limited period to complete it, making it important to gather the necessary records beforehand.
What Should Ohio Residents Know About Firearm Rights Restoration?
Ohio has its own process for relief from a weapons disability under R.C. 2923.14. A qualifying person may apply to the court of common pleas in the county where they live. The court may grant relief if the statutory requirements are satisfied, including requirements related to completion of the sentence and the applicant’s conduct.
State relief can also matter under federal law. In State v. Heffley, the Supreme Court of Ohio held that an Ohio court may grant relief under R.C. 2923.14 even when the same conviction creates both an Ohio and federal firearm disability.
What Should Kentucky Residents Know About Firearm Rights Restoration?
Kentucky law generally prohibits a person convicted of a felony in state or federal court from possessing, manufacturing, or transporting a firearm. KRS 527.040 contains exceptions for a full pardon from the Governor or President and certain relief under the federal Gun Control Act.
Kentucky’s statute still refers to federal relief granted by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, even though federal authority over firearm-rights restoration now rests with the Attorney General. That creates an important state-law issue for Kentucky residents seeking relief through the new federal program.
Contact Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers To Schedule a Free Consultation With a Criminal Defense Attorney
Federal firearm rights restoration does not automatically remove state restrictions, and an application alone does not permit someone to possess a firearm while a prohibition remains in effect. Ohio and Kentucky residents should determine which federal and state restrictions apply before possessing or purchasing a firearm.
A criminal defense attorney can assess the applicable firearm disability, determine which restoration processes may be available, and assist with the required filings. Reach out to Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation.
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