Expert: Robert P. Firriolo - 10/14/2008

Question
When i was 20 years old,I was convicted of selling $30.00 worth of narcotics in New York state.I spent 2 months in riskers island and 5 years on probation.I since moved to Florida and was wondering if there is any way to restore my rights to bear arms.It has been 14 years since this conviction and have not been in trouble since.Thank you for your time on this matter

Answer
You do not say whether you were convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor. Assuming it was a felony, you are a "prohibited person" and may not possess firearms under federal law. To restore firearm rights after a felony conviction in a New York State court, one needs to obtain a Certificate of Relief from Civil Disabilities (CRD) and a Certificate of Good Conduct (CGC) from the sentencing court or the Parole Board.

Please refer to the following document for specific details, and note closely the contents of paragraph #15:

http://dpca.state.ny.us/pdfs/certificatesofrelieffromforfeituresanddisabilitiesq...

I cannot give you legal advice and you would need to consult an attorney for how these provisions of law apply to you specifically. You can also contact the NYS Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives for more information:

http://dpca.state.ny.us/contact.htm

However, generally speaking, with the CRD and CGC, and no subsequent convictions, there should be no bar to owning a rifle or shotgun. You can also try applying for a Florida handgun license after you get the CRD and CGC.

I trust this is helpful