Frequently Asked Questions

Answer: Generally, the following individuals are prohibited from shipping, transporting, receiving or possessing firearms or ammunition under the Gun Control Act:

1 convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term   

   exceeding one year

2 fugitive from justice

3 unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance under the 

   Controlled Substances Act

4 an illegal alien

5 a former Service member with a dishonorable characterization of service

6 someone who renounced their U.S. citizenship

7 someone who is subject to a court order restraining the person from 

  harassment, stalking or threatening their intimate partner or child of the 

  intimate partner

8 someone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic 

  violence

Answer: If you receive a decision stating that you have been denied a firearm, you can seek relief by appealing the decision. This is called a 'firearm-related challenge'. Service members who were disciplined while in the military may have derogatory information that may lead to the wrongful denial under the Gun Control Act.

Answer: Generally, it may be important to have the underlying investigation, any personnel records, non-judicial punishment records or any other documents explaining the context of the misconduct - depending on the circumstances. Some misconduct is military-specific and it may be necessary to explain it in the challenge.