Source: https://gallagherdefense.com/crimes/gun-charges-attorney/felon-possession-gun/
Timestamp: 2020-03-29 08:14:11
Document Index: 577988306

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 624', '§ 624', '§ 609', '§ 609', '§ 921', '§624', '§624']

Felon in Possession of Firearm Minnesota • Ineligible Person • Attorney
Home » Crimes » Gun Charges » Ineligible Person in Possession of a Firearm
Felony possession of a firearm charges can include more than just a felon in possession of a gun. So, an ineligible person is a broader category. And since these crimes have severe penalties, we should learn more about the law.
Gun laws have become complex and confusing – even for some lawyers and judges. And that’s a problem. After all, the core principle of due process is fair notice. So we should have notice of what to avoid doing to be on the safe side of the law.
When there are grey areas in the law, the rule of lenity applies. So legal grey areas create “reasonable doubt.”
Attorney Thomas Gallagher explains felon in possession and ineligible person gun crimes
To understand to the gun laws, we must simplify. So keep in mind that while we explain simply, there is often a deeper level of analysis possible.
Gun laws in Minnesota include both state and federal laws; interpreted by both Minnesota and federal courts.
Most “ineligible person in possession of a firearm” crimes are state charges. So Minnesota law will be our focus here. Similarly, we’ll discuss what makes a person ineligible to possess a firearm in Minnesota. (And here is our page discussing: the law of possession of a firearm in Minnesota.)
Certain laws strip away people’s rights based upon either past conduct or the person’s status. So here are the most common categories of ineligibility:
Gun owner, Martin Luther King, Montgomery arrest 1958. Denied carry permit based on race?
Ineligibility is the basis for most felony possession of a firearm charges. The most common grounds of ineligibility are:
a person’s past criminal convictions, or
The rights diminished by certain restraining orders are generally temporary, ending when the period of the Order ends. But ineligibility triggered by a criminal charge or conviction will be our focus here.
The two main bases for lifetime ineligibility are based upon a criminal conviction:
Pending felony charge: A criminal charge is “pending” after a prosecutor files a Complaint but before resolution of the case. And a person with a pending felony chargemay not legally possess “any pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon.” Minn. Stat. § 624.713, Subd. 1a. So that applies to people on pretrial diversion of a felony crime of violence, as well. Minn. Stat. § 624.713, Subd. 1 (7).
Felony convictions: We begin with the General Rule.
Discharge of conviction generally restores the person’s civil rights. And it does to full citizenship; the same as if the conviction had not taken place. Minn. Stat. § 609.165, Restoration of civil rights; possession of firearms, Subd. 1. So, not everyone with a Minnesota felony conviction will be a felon in possession.
And the exception to the exception: Minn. Stat. § 609.165, Subd 1d:
States can take away, and restore civil rights
Federal law either recognizes or incorporates state law on gun rights. So, Minnesota law controls in this area. Caron v. United States, 524 U.S. 308 (1998); 18 U.S. Code § 921, (a) (20); 27 CFR 478.11 (Meaning of terms. “Crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year”).
In Minnesota, a person may temporarily lose their gun rights while felony charges are pending, including pretrial diversion.
And after a felony conviction, Minnesota law automatically restores gun rights upon final discharge from sentence; unless the crime of conviction was on the felony crime of violence list (or certain domestic crimes).
But the list of felony “crimes of violence” is long. And it includes many factually non-violent crimes, such as felony possession of marijuana. As a result, people lose their civil rights to guns on a legal technicality.
After a Minnesota felony “crime of violence” conviction, a person loses their civil rights to firearms for life, by default. But a person can get them back if: a Court Order restores civil rights to firearms, a pardon, or otherwise gets their rights restored. For example, with civil rights restoration, a prosecutor can no longer convict the person of being a felon in possession.
Careful though: a typical Minnesota expungement does not restore gun rights.
Which applies? Here you can read our in-depth discussion of: Felony doesn’t always impair Minnesota gun rights.
The maximum penalty for gun possession by a person with a felony “crime of violence” conviction, is fifteen years. And for most other ineligible person in possession of a gun cases the maximum is one year. Minn. Stat. §624.713, subd. 2. But judges almost never sentence to the maximum.
The maximum does matter though. Because probation can’t normally be longer than the statutory maximum. And the difference between a felony and a gross misdemeanor matters when it comes to a criminal record.
Mandatory minimums: Mandatory minimum sentencing laws are controversial. And public skepticism of them continues to grow. They tend to:
force judges to execute unjust, long prison terms; and have
disparate impacts based on race.
And we do have several mandatory minimum sentencing laws in Minnesota for gun crimes.
As a result, when a client faces a possession of a firearm charge; Attorney Thomas Gallagher works to avoid the mandatory minimum.
Gun Crimes Defense Attorney Thomas Gallagher hears this question a lot.
First we must know exactly what the conviction was, and the sentence. The public court record should show this. And you can easily find it online with the court file number.
However, we have an exception to that general rule for a “felony crime of violence” conviction. The felony “crime of violence” conviction triggers the default lifetime ban. A prosecutor can charge a person in this category as a felon in possession.
And then we have the exception to that exception. A person with the lifetime ban for felony “crime of violence;” can seek a Court Order restoring civil rights, or get a Pardon.
But when it comes to non-felony domestic assault convictions, it’s a bit more complicated. So see our article: How to Restore Civil Rights to Firearms After a Misdemeanor Domestic Crime Conviction in Minnesota.
What about a person who never lost their civil rights in the first place; or who got them back? That adult can be around firearms without worry of prosecution as an ineligible person. If you have a question about that, call Gun Crimes Defense Attorney Thomas Gallagher.
If a person loses their civil rights to firearms; then they’re an “ineligible person.” Or they are a “prohibited person.” So, they can’t legally possess guns.
What if your spouse or family member is an ineligible person? That’s a common problem. Your rights should not be infringed just because you live with someone who is “ineligible.” And technically, they’re not. But what if something happens. What if a prosecutor charges your family member as felon in possession; even though it’s not their gun?
In this situation, you should learn more about the law of possession, starting on our possession of a firearm page. The most safe plan would be to keep any guns out of the house. But some people go with a gun safe with zero access for the “prohibited person.”
Gun Crime Defense Attorney Thomas Gallagher looks at defenses for felony possession of a firearm cases.
Defenses that apply to any criminal case, can apply here too. But we have more defenses specific to gun possession cases.
So, if the prosecutor lacks enough evidence to prove possession, the verdict is not-guilty. And possession cases can be quite fact specific. So each case is different.
For more on defending the possession charge, see our page possession of a firearm.
If the prosecutor lacks enough evidence to prove that the person is “ineligible,” then the verdict is not-guilty. And if the person does have their civil rights to firearms, they are not ineligible.
But due to widespread confusion about gun laws, a prosecutor could charge someone despite their having their civil rights restored. An example could be a person with a felony conviction, not on the designated offense list of Minn. Stat. §624.712, subd. 5 “felony crimes of violence.” After such a person completes their sentence, their civil rights are automatically back.
What if the government mistakenly told you that you can legally possess a gun? And you take them at their word. Is it fair that they then prosecute you for that? Of course not. So this can be a defense in the right case.
Why is the jury trial the cornerstone of democracy?
Because the jury is the conscience of the community. Where the government would urge the jury to do evil, the jury can refuse.
The jury has the power to bring a not-guilty verdict, regardless of the facts and the law. So the last defense of democracy and the Constitution is the jury. Felon in possession cases sometimes result in jury nullification.
Sometimes judges enforce the law, unjustly. But other times judges find a way to do the right thing; even when the law pushes them to do wrong.
Gun-related pages:
Gun pages on our Minneapolis Criminal Law Blog
Three-part series on Self-Defense Law in Real Life
With long, mandatory minimum prison sentences; the need is clear.
Thomas Gallagher is not only one of the best defense attorneys in Minnesota; he’s also a recognized expert on gun laws.
Take a look at all of the Continuing Legal Education courses Gallagher’s taught lawyers and judges.
For example, this recent Minnesota Gun Law CLE. And for every one, his peers invited Gallagher to speak as a recognized legal expert on gun laws.
These are important cases. And you need the best gun crimes defense attorney. So call Attorney Thomas Gallagher about your case.
And check out Attorney Thomas Gallagher’s in-depth articles on:
Minnesota gun laws and rights, as well as
self-defense in Minnesota.