X was convicted of misdemeanor assault on October 10, 1996. The crime of assault does not make specific mention of domestic violence, but the criminal complaint reflects that X assaulted his wife. X may no longer possess firearms or ammunition. He possesses a firearm on October 10, 1996. If a person was convicted of a crime at any time, he or she may not lawfully possess firearms or ammunition on or after September 30, 1996.
State law applies.
The law states that a person must be convicted of a State misdemeanor to be under firearms disabilities. Therefore, if the State does not consider the person to be convicted, the person would not have Federal firearms disabilities. What is a conviction is determined by the law of the jurisdiction in which the proceedings were held. If the State law where the proceedings were held does not consider probation before judgement or deferred adjudication to be a conviction, the person would not be subject to Federal firearms disabilities. X was convicted of misdemeanor assault on October 10, 1996.