Tag Archives: National Firearms Act of 1934

Felon gun ownership: clause and effect

Twisted gun sculpture
“Non-Violence” by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd. Photo by Francois Polito.

The idea that criminals should forfeit certain civil rights reaches back at least to the 19th-century concept of civiliter mortuus (“civil death”). Today, federal law bars convicted felons from possessing firearms or ammunition. Case closed, right? Wrong. Federal law works in mysterious ways, particularly when it bumps up against state interests and high court interpretations.

Can a Felon Own a Gun in the United States?