If you have been convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors then both federal and state law prohibit you from purchasing, possessing, or transporting firearms.
However, in many cases it is possible for Virginia residents to have their gun rights restored.
§ 18.2-308.2(C) of the Code of Virginia provides for certain convicted persons to petition the circuit court of the jurisdiction in which he or she resides for a restoration of their right to possess firearms.
Am I eligible?
To determine whether you should consider pursuing a restoration of your gun rights, let’s walk through a few questions:
Is your disability based upon a state or a federal conviction?
If your disability is based upon a federal conviction, then there is currently no way to have your gun rights restored except a presidential pardon. There is statutorily an administrative process, however, since 1992 Congress has denied ATF funding to process the necessary applications.
If your disability is based upon a Virginia state conviction, then you may be eligible to petition the court for a restoration of your gun rights.
But first …
Have you had your political rights restored?
Under Virginia law, your political rights must be restored before you may petition the Circuit Court for a restoration of your gun rights.
Political rights include the right to vote, to run for and hold public office, to serve on juries, and to serve as a notary public.
If your political rights have not been restored then you must submit an application for political rights restoration. If you are eligible to have your political rights restored but have not yet done so, I will be happy to assist you in doing so as part of the gun rights restoration service.
So … if your political rights have been restored or if you are eligible to apply then you are ready to put together your petition for restoration of your gun rights.
Shouldn’t I just use a local attorney?
If you are trying to get representation regarding a patent filing then you call a patent attorney.
If you are trying to get representation regarding an adoption then you call a family law attorney.
The same should be true where gun rights restoration is concerned. Not everyone understands the level of complexity involved in firearms law and this can lead to disastrous consequences.
I have encountered a number of purported gun rights ‘restorations’ which do not, in fact, restore the rights of the petitioner and can lead to state or federal charges against the person who believes that his or her rights have been restored.
What does your representation cost?
If you qualify, I will assist you in applying for restoration of your political rights (if necessary), petition the Circuit Court in the jurisdiction where you reside for relief from the disability imposed by your conviction, appear with you for your hearing, and prepare the necessary order for the judge to sign. I offer this service for a flat fee of $1,900 which includes any necessary travel expense for your hearing (local cases may receive a discounted rate).
Please note however that this is not a guarantee of success … only a promise to work diligently on your behalf. Ultimately, the judge will take the totality of your situation into account in making his or her decision.
The factors the judge will consider include: the seriousness of the crime, any other criminal history, the length of time since the conviction, and your community involvement.
If you made a mistake and have turned your life around, isn’t it time that you took the steps necessary to recover all of your rights?
Contact me for a free, private, and confidential consultation.
What previous clients are saying
I hired John to represent me for a firearms restoration case. My hearing was this morning, October 22nd of 2020 and I won my petition and now have my firearm rights back. Excuse my French but John is one hell of an attorney. He was extremely diligent, wise and professional. He never led me astray and was absolutely up front with every possible outcome. I'm leaving this review so other people who may be in the same situation as me can have a clear path and John is that path. If you want the best chance to get your rights back, hire John. He knows what he's doing my friends.
Michael ThompsonOctober 30, 2021
Recently required some legal advice regarding NFA Trusts. John Pierce was prompt and helpful. Couldn't be more pleased and decided to use his services!
Brandon KykerJanuary 16, 2020
I contacted John under the impression I had no gun rights hoping he could restore them, thru his enthusiasm and wisdom of the nuances in the world of firearms, John before I had even paid him a dime did some legwork and found my gun rights we're still intact. So before I even gave him a dollar he had already proven himself as an attorney and a gentleman. After that I had him deal with the state police to avoid any dicey situations that could arrive from me purchasing a firearm and cost me my job as a nuclear professional, and for a reasonable fee which I was happy to pay as he had already done so much without fee. I would highly recommend John for any matter you might need because he is the type of man who defines what it means to go the extra mile!
Archer ClarkeJanuary 20, 2019
Mr. Pierce was very professional. He is very detail oriented and thoroughly explained each step of the process of reinstatement from which documents I needed to obtain, to how the hearing would proceed and the questions I would need to answer. He made the whole process much easier and less stressful than it could have been otherwise.
Bradlee AillesFebruary 9, 2020
I needed a lawyer to file a petition for me and I found John online. From the moment I emailed John, it was very clear that John not only knew what he was doing, but was also very good at it. John explained every step of the process and exactly how much everything would cost. He told me exactly what paperwork I needed to provide (and there is quite a bit) and he told me exactly how to get all of it. On the day of my hearing, John went through exactly how things would go and what I could expect from the court. The fact that John charges a flat rate for his services was just a bonus. My relationship with my previous attorney was a steady stream of legal fees charged to a credit card he kept on file for me. I cannot stress how positive my experience has been, and I will definitely be reaching out to John if I ever need a lawyer again.
Thomas YumOctober 19, 2019
