Chester County, PA Firearms Eligibility Investigations

What to do after a PICS Denial or Undetermined Status in Chester County

After a PICS Denial or Undetermined Status, it is very important to contact a firearms attorney as soon as possible. This is because there are very strict deadlines in place, and neither the dealer nor the Sheriff will be able to inform you of the reason for denial. DO NOT TRY TO CONTACT THE POLICE TO FIND OUT WHY, BECAUSE ANYTHING YOU SAY CAN BE USED AGAINST YOU IN CRIMINAL COURT. Make sure to keep good notes about the date and location of the denial and the name of the dealer or Sheriff’s Office. If you are denied a License to Carry Firearms (concealed carry license) due to a PICS Denial or Undetermined Status, the Sheriff must send written notice of the denial by certified mail. Make sure you do not lose that letter. You only have 30 days after a PICS denial or undetermined status to file a PICS Challenge. If you don’t file your PICS Challenge within 30 days, you cannot have it overturned. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you do not try to file a PICS Challenge unless you are absolutely certain that you are not prohibited from possessing firearms and are willing to face a felony and jail time if you are wrong. When you file the challenge, you will once again certify that the information you provide is subject to the penalty of a felony of the third degree and a misdemeanor of the third degree. Many people try to purchase a firearm and have no idea that something in their past makes them prohibited. An experienced firearms attorney will be able to ask you the right questions, gather the necessary documents and information and determine whether you are even eligible to own and possess firearms (or get a License to Carry Firearms) before submitting a PICS Challenge on your behalf. Because there is a 30-day deadline, it is very important to act fast, because 30 days is a very short amount of time to conduct the necessary investigation.

Can I get a License to Carry Firearms (Concealed Carry License) in Pennsylvania

Even if you can legally own a gun, you still might not be able to get a License to Carry Firearms (concealed carry license) in Pennsylvania. For example, even very minor drug offenses can render you ineligible for a License to Carry Firearms in Pennsylvania. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6109, if you have been convicted of any offense under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act you are ineligible for a License to Carry Firearms. That means that if you have been convicted of even a minor drug crime in Pennsylvania, such as possession of a small amount of marijuana or possession of drug paraphernalia, you can’t get a License to Carry Firearms even if your conviction is very old. This is true even if you pleaded guilty and only paid a small fine. If there is a chance you may have been convicted of misdemeanor drug crime in Pennsylvania, you should not apply for a License to Carry Firearms without a firearms eligibility investigation.

What happens after you submit a PICS Challenge in Chester County?

After Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) receives a PICS Challenge, they have five days to provide a response. This response is very important because it provides valuable information, including “Possible Reasons for Denial/Undetermined.” It is very important to keep this document because you only have 30 days to provide supplemental information. If your firearms attorney has already conducted an appropriate investigation, it will be much easier to provide PSP with the information necessary to issue a reversal letter. In the event that the reasons for denial/undetermined are completely unexpected (e.g. mistaken identity) the remaining time must be utilized to quickly gather the documentation necessary to overturn the denial.

There are Many Good Reasons to Apply for a Chester Pardon in Pennsylvania

The overwhelming majority of people contact us at The Gun Law Firm with the intention of restoring their firearms rights. But through the course of the process most people realize there are many other reasons they want a Pardon. Some of these include your reputation, your career, and your rights.

When someone calls our office who has a Chester County conviction on their record, I don’t think of these people as “criminals.” These are hard-working, successful individuals who care about their family, but happen to have been convicted of a crime at some point in their life. These people are generally law-abiding, except for an isolated period in their life. With the internet, it is very easy to look up a person’s criminal history. Most people don’t want that information readily accessible to their co-workers and clients, because it doesn’t represent the person they are today. That’s why protecting your reputation is an excellent reason to apply for a pardon in Pennsylvania.

Convictions can also seriously limit your ability to advance your career. It may become difficult or even impossible to obtain certain licenses, certifications or clearances with a conviction on your record. Even individuals who own a business and have no “employer” can run into this problem. If you are self-employed, you can also lose business if your clients and customers see your convictions online. The people who call my office are typically motivated individuals who want to achieve their full potential. Advancing your career is not solely about personal satisfaction, it helps you better provide for your loved ones who depend on you. That is why many of my clients view a pardon as an investment rather than a cost. They want to get a better job or grow their business. If you are serious about achieving your goals and providing for your family, that is an excellent reason to apply for a pardon in Pennsylvania.

Many people don’t realize that a conviction can impact rights other than firearms. Your right to hold public office, your right to serve on a jury, and your right to vote could all be forfeited through a conviction. As Americans, we value these rights tremendously. Our ability to do our part in protecting our Constitutional Republic lessens dramatically if we are unable to participate in the political process or our judicial system. If you value your rights and value our country, restoring those rights is another great reason to apply for a pardon in Pennsylvania.