Accused is hardly what I would classify as a "gun owner". Article doesn't say he was on probation for a felony, but a quick check of courtview shows that he was a convicted felon. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm, and there are severe federal penalties (rarely enforced) for felons possessing firearms. If these penalties were enforced, felons who are caught with guns would be locked away for a long time, not back on the streets committing more crimes.