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Gun rights restoration by state

Every state has its own firearm rules. Federal relief is only one part of the answer.

Choose your state for a focused guide to conviction-based firearm restrictions, the principal restoration route, and how the renewed federal 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) process may interact with state law.

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Direct answer

Federal approval does not automatically erase a state firearm prohibition.

DOJ’s federal restoration program addresses federal disability. A state can still impose its own restriction, so both layers should be checked before a person relies on restored eligibility.

Review the official DOJ program →
50 states + Washington, D.C.

Find your state gun-rights guide.

Each page explains the state-law snapshot, principal restoration path, federal overlap, records to gather, and state-specific FAQs.

AL
AlabamaPardon-based restoration is the central Alabama route for a state firearm disability tied to a crime of violence.
→ AK
AlaskaTime-based restoration may apply to some nonviolent convictions; pardon review matters for more serious cases.
→ AZ
ArizonaCourt restoration or qualifying set-aside; dangerous offenses are treated more strictly.
→ AR
ArkansasPardon or qualifying record relief may restore state firearm rights, depending on the offense and order.
→ CA
CaliforniaPardon is a major route; some convictions may be affected by felony reduction under California law.
→ CO
ColoradoPardon and conviction-specific analysis; federal § 925(c) relief does not erase a Colorado restriction.
→ CT
ConnecticutPardon/erasure is a central route; the permitting consequences must also be reviewed.
→ DE
DelawarePardon-based restoration is the primary path for felony-based firearm disabilities.
→ DC
District of ColumbiaThe route depends on the offense category; pardon is especially important for permanent restrictions.
→ FL
FloridaExecutive clemency/pardon is the principal route for Florida felony firearm restoration.
→ GA
GeorgiaPardon or first-offender-specific relief, depending on the conviction and disposition.
→ HI
HawaiiPardon-based restoration.
→ ID
IdahoAutomatic restoration for some cases; pardon review for listed violent offenses.
→ IL
IllinoisAdministrative, judicial, or pardon-based restoration depending on the case.
→ IN
IndianaState police/court restoration after eligibility period or pardon, depending on the offense.
→ IA
IowaGovernor-based restoration or pardon; offense exclusions are critical.
→ KS
KansasTime-based restoration, expungement, or pardon depending on the conviction category.
→ KY
KentuckyPardon is central; qualifying expungement may alter the conviction record and must be analyzed separately.
→ LA
LouisianaTime-based restoration for certain convictions or pardon; concealed-carry eligibility is a separate issue.
→ ME
MainePardon-based restoration for ordinary firearms.
→ MD
MarylandPardon-based relief is central for conviction-based Maryland firearm disabilities.
→ MA
MassachusettsTime-based eligibility for some offenses; pardon for excluded serious categories.
→ MI
MichiganTime-based restoration for some convictions; additional court conditions or record relief may apply to specified felonies.
→ MN
MinnesotaAutomatic restoration for some cases; court petition or pardon for crimes of violence and other listed offenses.
→ MS
MississippiJudicial restoration or pardon.
→ MO
MissouriPardon or statutory expungement.
→ MT
MontanaCourt petition or pardon for qualifying weapon-related disabilities.
→ NE
NebraskaPardon-based restoration.
→ NV
NevadaJudicial or executive restoration.
→ NH
New HampshireAnnulment for qualifying offenses or pardon.
→ NJ
New JerseyPardon or gubernatorial restoration.
→ NM
New MexicoTime-based expiration for many felony disabilities or pardon.
→ NY
New YorkCertificate of Good Conduct or pardon, depending on the record and licensing issue.
→ NC
North CarolinaCourt restoration for qualifying nonviolent cases or pardon.
→ ND
North DakotaTime-based restoration, court petition, or pardon depending on the offense.
→ OH
OhioJudicial relief from disability after statutory conditions are met.
→ OK
OklahomaFull pardon is a central restoration route for qualifying felony convictions.
→ OR
OregonTime-based restoration, judicial restoration, set-aside, or pardon depending on the conviction.
→ PA
PennsylvaniaCourt restoration after pardon or statutory waiting period, depending on the disqualifier.
→ RI
Rhode IslandPardon or offense-specific statutory restoration.
→ SC
South CarolinaPardon-based restoration for qualifying crime-of-violence disabilities.
→ SD
South DakotaTime-based restoration after the statutory period or pardon.
→ TN
TennesseeCourt restoration, expungement, or pardon depending on offense type.
→ TX
TexasLimited home-premises restoration after five years; pardon for broader state restoration.
→ UT
UtahExpungement for many eligible convictions; pardon for excluded violent offenses.
→ VT
VermontState conviction alone may not create a Vermont firearm ban; federal § 922(g) must still be resolved independently.
→ VA
VirginiaCivil-rights restoration followed by circuit-court firearm petition, or pardon.
→ WA
WashingtonJudicial restoration after the required waiting period or pardon.
→ WV
West VirginiaCourt restoration for eligible cases; pardon or expungement for excluded serious categories.
→ WI
WisconsinPardon-based restoration.
→ WY
WyomingAutomatic restoration for qualifying nonviolent first offenders; otherwise pardon/restoration.
→
Two layers of law

Why the state page matters even when § 925(c) applies.

A felony or other disqualifying event can create a federal firearm prohibition, a state prohibition, or both. The federal 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) process is designed to provide individualized relief from applicable federal firearm disabilities. DOJ also states that the federal process does not automatically restore state or tribal firearm rights.

State restoration can take very different forms

Depending on the jurisdiction, a person may be looking at a pardon, judicial petition, civil-rights restoration, expungement or set-aside, a statutory waiting period, or another state-specific procedure. Some states distinguish among violent and nonviolent offenses, weapons types, or conviction categories.

What to verify before relying on a restoration

The exact conviction statute, maximum punishment, sentence-completion date, later history, present residence, and legal effect of any prior court or executive order can all matter. This website is an issue-spotting resource, not authorization to possess or purchase a firearm.

AEO + FAQ

Questions people ask before starting.

State-specific answers are available inside every guide.

Sometimes. Federal law recognizes several routes that may affect a firearm disability, and DOJ now has a renewed 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) process for individualized federal relief. State restrictions can still apply independently.

The Justice Department finalized a new federal firearm-rights restoration rule in August 2026 and announced a staged application rollout through the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Relief is discretionary, not automatic.

No. DOJ states that the federal process does not automatically restore state or tribal firearm rights. The law of the conviction state and current residence may need separate review.

No. State routes can include pardon, judicial restoration, civil-rights restoration, record relief, statutory waiting periods, or other procedures, with different exclusions and legal effects.

No. Record relief and firearm-rights restoration are related but distinct legal questions. The effect depends on the actual order, state law, and federal law.

Start with the final disposition, charging document, sentencing order, proof of sentence completion, criminal-history records, and every prior pardon, expungement, set-aside, or restoration order.