Source: https://minneapoliscriminallawyer.liberty-lawyer.com/2018/11/19/minnesota-felony-not-always-impair-civil-rights-firearms/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 01:01:56+00:00

Document:
A Minnesota felony doesn’t always impair gun rights. But many still believe that “a Minnesota felony conviction will mean a lifetime loss of gun rights.” That’s wrong.
Upon completion of probation, gun rights lost after a felony conviction are automatically restored along with other civil rights, under the general rule of Minnesota law. We discuss exceptions to that general rule below.
The right to self-defense and firearms is a natural, human right. It belongs to you because you were born a human being. The United States was born in revolution and violent struggle to force government to respect our natural rights. The United States Constitution makes this respect clear.
As the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled: “The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.” District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 US 570 (2008).
The law, however, does limit our rights under some circumstances. Even so, strict scrutiny must be given to any legal limitations upon our fundamental rights. We are skeptical of legal limitations of our rights.
Certain pending criminal charges or convictions historically have limited our civil rights to firearms. As criminal defense attorneys, part of our job representing our clients is to understand how to protect their civil rights.
Will any felony conviction cause a lifetime loss of civil rights to firearms?
But a Minnesota felony doesn’t always impair gun rights.
We have heard that wrong statement of the law (that a felony always means a lifetime loss of gun rights) from people who should know better.
Gun laws are complex – short of in-depth study.
The laws have changed – many have failed to update their knowledge.
Solution: This article will walk you through the law. And it explains why “a felony conviction” doesn’t always impair Minnesota gun rights indefinitely. Two common exceptions to that general rule are: 1) “felony crimes of violence” and 2) “misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence.” If lost, these rights may either be automatically be restored by operation of law; or, their restoration may be possible through a court order or pardon.
For someone who has not fully studied the web of Minnesota gun laws, the above excerpt, in isolation, could be misleading. It seems to say that a felony conviction will result in an indefinite loss of civil rights to firearms. But below we discuss the other, specific Minnesota statutes to the contrary.
Every person convicted of a Minnesota felony will lose their civil rights to firearms from the moment of adjudication or conviction until the moment the person is discharged from probation or sentence. Minnesota Statutes §624.713, subd. 1 (10) (i). Unless their conviction was for a “felony” “crime of violence” or other exception; their rights are automatically restored upon completion of sentence (e.g., probation).
Note that it doesn’t matter what level the conviction was – felony or misdemeanor. Gun rights are restored under this general rule statute upon discharge from sentence. Clearly, a Minnesota felony doesn’t always impair gun rights.
The specific list of crimes defined as “felony crimes of violence” is in Minnesota Statutes §624.712, subdivision 5. A listed crime triggers a lifetime loss of civil rights. Otherwise, discharge from felony probation or sentence will generally restore gun rights by law. It’s important to check the list, since despite the label, many convictions on the list are factually non-violent and listed as a technicality, notably marijuana crimes.
What about a federal statute saying a felony conviction triggers a loss of gun rights?
Federal laws are in need of some housecleaning, to convey clear meaning. Bottom line – federal law says that state laws take away and restore civil rights to guns.
“What constitutes a conviction of such a crime shall be determined in accordance with the law of the jurisdiction in which the proceedings were held. Any conviction which has been expunged, or set aside or for which a person has been pardoned or has had civil rights restored shall not be considered a conviction for purposes of this chapter, …” §921(a)(20).
We note these preliminary points. First, Massachusetts restored petitioner’s civil rights by operation of law rather than by pardon or the like. This fact makes no difference. Nothing in the text of §921(a)(20) requires a case-by-case decision to restore civil rights to this particular offender. While the term “pardon” connotes a case-by-case determination, “restoration of civil rights” does not.
Therefore, Minnesota law, not federal law determines whether a Minnesota felony conviction makes a person ineligible to possess a firearm. See, also 18 U.S. Code § 921, (a) (20) The term “crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;” and, 27 CFR 478.11.
This is Black Letter Law. The law is clear and unambiguous. Minnesota law, not federal law, determines whether a person loses their civil rights to firearms for a felony conviction. And Minnesota law determines how those rights can be restored.
If you hear anyone repeating the old misinformation, send them this article for a simple explanation of the law. At minimum, know that a Minnesota felony conviction doesn’t always impair gun rights.
Short answer: When it comes to gun rights, it doesn’t matter. Why?
What about juvenile adjudications for felony crimes?
For purposes of gun rights a Minnesota juvenile adjudication triggers the same gun rights disabilities as a conviction for an adult. A juvenile “adjudication” is the functional equivalent to an adult “conviction.” See, Minnesota Statutes §242.31, RESTORATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS; POSSESSION OF FIREARMS. For juveniles, a Minnesota felony adjudication doesn’t always impair gun rights.
What about civil rights to firearms after a Minnesota “misdemeanor crime of domestic violence” conviction?
See our recent article for a thorough discussion of: Civil Rights to Firearms after a Minnesota “misdemeanor crime of domestic violence” conviction.
Let’s consider a timeline in a person’s life with the effect of criminal law events on their civil rights. The person is born in the U.S.A. with their natural rights to firearms subject to mild regulation for age, etc.
Then a felony or selected misdemeanor charge may temporarily suspend the person’s gun rights pending the outcome of those charges in court. Dismissal, a not-guilty verdict, or a conviction could result.
If convicted of a felony and selected misdemeanor crimes, the person loses their civil rights to firearms. After that, the general rule Minnesota statute restores their civil rights to firearms upon completion of sentence, with exceptions. For some felony and selected misdemeanor crimes, the Minnesota law exceptions trigger an indefinite or lifetime ban. Gun rights can later be restored, for example by court order or pardon for people so affected.
Some prosecutors and some defense attorneys fail to understand gun laws. This can result in a wrongful conviction for felony “ineligible person in possession of a firearm” of an innocent person, based on a non-listed past Minnesota felony conviction. Be sure to to retain a criminal defense attorney who knows not only criminal law, but gun law. One basic test: does the attorney know that a Minnesota felony doesn’t always impair gun rights? Be sure your defense attorney knows the law.
But a person with a past conviction, does not want to risk being on the wrong side of the law. Especially as some random law enforcement officer or prosecutor may interpret it. The law may have fully restored their civil rights. But they may still have trouble with a gun purchase permit denial by someone who fails to understand that a Minnesota felony doesn’t always impair gun rights. To avoid grey-area trouble, that person may wish legal help to ensure recognition of their full civil rights as a citizen.
If someone says that a felony conviction always means a loss of civil rights to firearms, remember that a Minnesota felony conviction doesn’t always impair gun rights. And recommend that they read this article for the map of the law.
Thomas C. Gallagher is a Minnesota Defense Attorney who handles criminal cases involving self-defense, and gun crimes cases. A Second Amendment and Bill of Rights supporter, Gallagher has taught and written extensively on firearms law and the law of self-defense.
You might be interested in our article on Restoring Gun Rights after a Minnesota Misdemeanor Domestic Conviction.
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