Can I go to the shooting range with a Felony on my Record?

Posted on August 25, 2017

The government cannot restrict your right to attend any place open to the public. Shooting ranges are public places open to anyone to attend. Accordingly, nothing in the law prohibits a person from attending a shooting range unless specifically ordered not to as a condition of probation.

However, just because you may attend/visit a shooting range, does not mean you’re allowed to possess a firearm. Moreover, a felony conviction prohibits anyone from owning or possessing a firearm. In fact, it is a felony to do so.

Many people believe that a felony conviction prohibits them from owning a firearm. The law is actually more expansive making it a crime to have a firearm in their possession even for a limited amount of time. “Possession” means actual possession or constructive possession. Constructive possession means a person has the right to access or control a firearm. Thus, simply being in a vehicle or sitting next to a firearm could arguably be construed to imply you are in possession of a firearm without physically holding the firearm.

So, the short answer is that a person may attend or visit a shooting range, but they cannot possess a firearm, period. A felony conviction mandates that no person may own or possess a firearm indefinitely. To restore firearm rights, you must seek to reduce your felony conviction to a misdemeanor or obtain a pardon by the governor. But these post-conviction remedies have certain limitations.

For more information, contact us today to speak with an Orange County criminal defense attorney.