How To Get Your Gun Rights Back in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, gun rights are fairly straightforward: adults who are legal residents of the state and are over the age of 18 can own a firearm. Unless, of course, you have a felony conviction on your record.
After a felony conviction, you cannot legally own a firearm of any type. You can’t even be in the same residence or vehicle as someone who owns a firearm. As long as the felony has not been pardoned, you will not be able to legally own or use a firearm. Ever.
Some people incorrectly think that an expungement will get them their gun rights back, but that’s not true. There are many benefits of expungements, but restoration of key rights is not one of them.
If you have an Oklahoma felony conviction on your record and would like to restore your gun rights, read on to find out how.
Step 1: Pardon
The first and most important step in restoring your 2nd Amendment rights is to get a pardon. A pardon is a sign of official forgiveness from the State. It acknowledges that you’ve turned your life around for the better since your conviction.
Applying for a pardon does not guarantee that you will be granted one. However, working with a pardon attorney can greatly improve your chances. At the pardon hearing, it may be in your best interest to have a pardon attorney speak on your behalf to effectively and efficiently convey the most important reasons why you deserve a pardon.
Once the Governor grants your pardon, your 2nd Amendment rights will be restored. You’ll legally be able to own and use a gun, as well as work at a job that requires handling firearms, like firearm sales or gunsmithing.
An added benefit of getting a pardon is that it may open the door to an expungement for the incident so you can put it behind you fully.
Step 2: Pass a Background Check
After your pardon, you’ll be able to pass the required federal background checks to purchase firearms. The actual process typically only takes a few minutes, but the government has up to three days to complete the check.
After those three days, the dealer then has the right to proceed with or deny the sale of the firearm. Under state law, once a background check is completed and approved, there is no limit to the number of firearms a person can purchase.
Step 3: Apply for a License (Optional)
As of 2019, any person over the age of 21 in Oklahoma is legally allowed to purchase a firearm and carry it concealed, even if they don’t apply for a license. Though a license is not required to carry a firearm in the state, some people still choose to secure one so that they can carry a firearm when traveling to other states that have reciprocity with Oklahoma.
Are You Ready to Get Your Gun Rights Back?
To get started, take our free Pardon Eligibility Quiz to see if you’re eligible for a pardon in Oklahoma.
