Why a Felony Reckless Endangerment conviction matters
Reckless-endangerment laws punish conduct that creates a serious risk to others, but the factual range is broad. Cases may involve vehicles, firearms, dangerous objects, intoxication, or other conduct that never results in physical injury.
How DOJ’s current restoration rule may treat the offense
An ordinary felony not otherwise listed may fall within the five-year category, while threats can trigger ten-year treatment and assault, battery, or firearm discharge can support permanent treatment.
Firearm discharge, threats of violence, assaultive conduct, or actual serious injury can move the case into a stronger DOJ category even when the conviction is labeled reckless endangerment.
What records should be reviewed?
For a felony-based firearm disability, DOJ currently directs applicants to gather the charging document, judgment of conviction, and official proof of the date the final sentence requirement was completed. Depending on the case, the plea agreement, factual basis, presentence report, prior restoration applications, and state criminal-history records may also be required. See the complete Federal Restoration Required Documents Checklist →
State law can still change the answer
If the felony reckless endangerment conviction was entered in state court, a pardon, set-aside, expungement, restoration of civil rights, or firearm-specific order may affect whether the conviction continues to count for federal firearm purposes. The legal effect of the actual order matters. Use the Gun Rights by State guides to identify the separate state layer.
What should you do next?
Start with the Eligibility Review if you are not sure which restoration path fits. If a federal § 925(c) application appears relevant, use the shorter federal restoration services. You can also read the September 2026 DOJ update and the main gun-rights restoration FAQ.
Frequently asked questions
A felony reckless-endangerment conviction requires a fact-specific review. The title alone does not determine whether the case falls in the five-year, ten-year, or permanent presumptive category.
An ordinary felony not otherwise listed may fall within the five-year category, while threats can trigger ten-year treatment and assault, battery, or firearm discharge can support permanent treatment. The exact judgment and underlying conduct should be reviewed before relying on a general category.
Start with the charging document, judgment, plea or trial disposition, sentencing records, official proof of when the final sentence requirement was completed, and copies of any prior pardon or rights-restoration order. DOJ also currently requires state criminal-history records covering the applicable period.
Not necessarily. Probation, parole, supervised release, community service, restitution, fines, or other criminal sentence requirements can affect the final sentence-completion date.
Sometimes, particularly for state convictions, but federal law looks at the legal effect of the relief. A pardon, expungement, set-aside, or restoration of civil rights should be reviewed under 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20) and current state law.
No. Filing an eligibility review, a FelonJustice intake, or an official DOJ application does not suspend a firearm prohibition. Relief must actually be effective under every applicable federal, state, and tribal rule.