Source: https://www.johntfloyd.com/2nd-amendment-allows-restrictions-on-felons-possessing-firearms/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 17:49:08+00:00

Document:
Texas Penal Code 46.04(a) deals with the unlawful possession of a firearm.
The U.S. Supreme Court in the District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) and McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010) lent constitutional credence to the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. However, this past July, the Sixth Court of Appeals, Texarkana, Texas, in Ross v. State[i], held that neither Heller nor McDonald apply to § 46.04(a). In that case, Cinque Ross was found guilty following a bench trial for being a felon in possession of a firearm and was given an eight year prison sentence.
The appeals court’s chronology of events leading up to Ross’s case is: In September 2013, Kilgore law enforcement authorities secured and executed a search warrant of a residence occupied by Ross. Three other individuals were present with him at the residence when the police arrived. Ross was physically in the bedroom where the officers found several small bags of methamphetamine and a small amount of marijuana. In a closet, the officers found four handguns, ammunition, and mail belonging to Ross. Ross was arrested and during a jail interview told the officers that he knew the firearms were in the closet.
On appeal, Ross argued that § 46.04(a), as it applied to him, was unconstitutional because Heller and McDonald gave him the right to possess a firearm in his own home for defensive purposes. The State countered that § 46.04(a) has passed constitutional muster under the Texas Constitution whose firearm provisions are comparable to the Second Amendment and that Heller and McDonald are not applicable to state statutes like § 46.04(a) that restrict access to firearms by felons. Ross conceded the general constitutionality of § 46.04(a), but argued the statute was unconstitutional “as-applied” to his particular circumstances.
Ross Argued that the Felon in Possession Statute was unconstitutional as it was applied to felons like him who possessed firearms at home for their protection.
We regularly get inquiries from convicted felons who are disparate to possess fire arms for either hunting or self protection. Some go as far as arguing the Second Amendment reasoning in Heller gives them Constitutional rights that trump state felon in possession laws. Our advice remains consistent, unless you want to be forced to hire a criminal defense lawyer and face real risk of serious prison time, you should avoid following this anecdotal advice. Both the federal government and state law enforcement have made enforcement of felon in possessions laws a priority and will seek prison time for those unfortunate enough to be convicted. These are serious consequences for convicted felons who sometimes may not take the prohibition seriously.

References: v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 § 46
 § 46
 § 46
 § 46
 § 46