Felon in Possession of a Firearm

If, as a person convicted of “certain felonies,” police arrested you for using or carrying a handgun, hunting rifle, or another type of firearm in the state of Louisiana, you can face serious penalties. Charges for possessing firearms or carrying concealed weapons as a convicted felon can lead to more severe consequences down the road. At The John D. and Eric G. Johnson Law Firm, our gun rights lawyers in Louisiana provide tough criminal defense to protect your Second Amendment rights.

Who May Not Possess Firearms in Louisiana?

Although Louisiana is generally a gun-friendly state, there are three kinds of people who cannot legally own or possess a firearm:

1. Anyone who has been convicted of certain felony offenses, including all crimes of violence, felony drug charges, kidnapping, and more.
2. Anyone convicted of domestic abuse battery, even a misdemeanor crime.
3. Anyone subject to a domestic violence protective order through the duration of the order.

People who fall into the above categories may have their firearm rights restored ten years after completing their sentence or probation, or ten years after the suspension of their sentence, so long as they have not acquired additional felony convictions in that time. Those who have a domestic violence protective order against them may not possess firearms if:

• The order includes a finding that the respondent represents a credible threat to the physical safety of a family or household member or dating partner.
• The order informs the respondent that he or she is prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to federal and state law.

It’s also worthwhile to note that prosecutors in Louisiana do not care what type of gun the convicted felon possesses; whether you are caught with a handgun, hunting rifle, revolver, or some other gun, you can face additional felony charges for doing so as a convicted felon.