Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    Carbondale, Pennsylvania
    (Lackawanna County)
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    Default Can you legally buy a firearm if your in a recovery program

    I have a family member who is currently in a program & is prescribed suboxone because he shattered his ankle & was on pain killers for years. He has No criminal record

    Can he legally buy a gun from a from a gunstore or will he fail the background check?

    Can he get a LTCF?

    Im not sure how it works exactly with the NICS and HIPPA laws

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Belly of the BEAST, Pennsylvania
    (Montgomery County)
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    Default Re: Can you legally buy a firearm if your in a recovery program

    Im not a lawyer,

    But my understanding is as long as hes not an unlawful user of any kind, no 302, and has no criminal record or pending charges then should be good to go.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    Belly of the BEAST, Pennsylvania
    (Montgomery County)
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    Default Re: Can you legally buy a firearm if your in a recovery program

    Quote Originally Posted by mickey01023 View Post
    I have a family member who is currently in a program & is prescribed suboxone because he shattered his ankle & was on pain killers for years. He has No criminal record

    Can he legally buy a gun from a from a gunstore or will he fail the background check?

    Can he get a LTCF?

    Im not sure how it works exactly with the NICS and HIPPA laws
    If you can, help him.
    Suboxone kills people, when they get cut off, people will seek out pain pills and heroin for the relief, usually attempting to go back to their old 'tried and true' dosages which ends up causing massive overdosing.

    There are some really amazing alternatives out there that work without further damaging the mind or body.

    Sorry for getting off track. Felt this needed to be said though.
    Someone going through that mentally, when other issues are tossed on(think covid issues with work/housing/etc) can reach their breaking point.

    You would know him better than us on the best direction to steer his interest.
    Losing friends sucks.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    York, Pennsylvania
    (York County)
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    2909643

    Default Re: Can you legally buy a firearm if your in a recovery program

    He can. I have first hand experience. The question on the 4473 is about "unlawful" use. Taking your prescription as written isnt unlawful, and theres a difference between an addiction and a dependence. He can check "no" on the box and be good to go.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Pocono`s, Pennsylvania
    (Monroe County)
    Posts
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    Default Re: Can you legally buy a firearm if your in a recovery program

    If he was legally prescribed the opioids and just needed to get off using subs legally then he didn't use unlawfully. I would think he's ok. Using subs properly and legally is a good way to end even legal opioid use.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Bucks, Pennsylvania
    Posts
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    Default Re: Can you legally buy a firearm if your in a recovery program

    If he had any LEO encounters over drugs in the last year, he's deemed a "current" user.

    That being said, it sounds like he has more important concerns than getting a gun while he's in medical crisis. But that's not my call.
    Attorney Phil Kline, AKA gunlawyer001@gmail.com
    Ce sac n'est pas un jouet.

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