Can a felon ever own a gun in Pa?

[str8up]

I need to know if a person convicted of a felony but never served jail time could own a gun in pa. My father has a lot of guns to give to myself my brother but he has a felony charge from 10 years ago. Is he able to have any of them?

[Preble Pro]

Unless a pardon is granted, I would say NO.

[OldSchoolPC]

^^^^ This.

[Remington788]

Not legally, anyway.

I would imagine that there are plenty of felons out there with guns. You read about them in the newspaper quite often.

[leplat]

If its been 10 years and he has no problems since he can try for a pardon.

[Curmudgeon]

How do you (or he) know he is a felon? Has anyone actually seen the record?

He would want to get a competent, knowledgeable and experienced attorney, get the felony pardoned, and then get it expunged. This may prove to be worthwhile for more reasons than firearms ownership alone.

ETA: if he really is prohibited, he can't own guns OR ammo, he can't even have access to them even if they belong to someone else.
.

[BimmerJon]

Aren't there some felonies that AREN'T prohibiting?

[herplover]

From what i understand if jail time COULD have been a year or more one can not legally own a gun.I dont think that includes black powder firearms though.

[donm]

I need to know if a person convicted of a felony but never served jail time could own a gun in pa. My father has a lot of guns to give to myself my brother but he has a felony charge from 10 years ago. Is he able to have any of them?

What do you mean by a "felony charge?" Was he convicted, and if so for what? There are some business-related felonies that are not prohibiting. On the other hand, there are some misdemeanors (in PA most M-1s) that are prohibiting at the federal level. And a few lesser misdemeanors (e.g., impersonating an LEO) are prohibiting at the state level as well.

[tl_3237]

Aren't there some felonies that AREN'T prohibiting?

Yes - for Federal purposes:

18 USC 921

(20) The term “crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year” does not include—

(A) any Federal or State offenses pertaining to antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, restraints of trade, or other similar offenses relating to the regulation of business practices

Other than that it would seem all other Federal felonies are prohibiting - the lowest class of felony (E) has a max of 3 years.

The lowest class of felony in Pa (third degree) would also be Federally prohibiting (max 7 years).