Columbia County, PA Firearms Eligibility Investigations
Firearms Eligibility Investigations in Columbia County
Learn more about Firearms Eligibility
What if my Columbia County PICS denial investigation shows that I can’t legally own a gun?
An investigation by an experienced firearms attorney is always valuable after a PICS denial, even if it turns out you are prohibited from possessing firearms and can’t legally own a gun. There are two primary areas of concern after a PICS denial when a person is in fact prohibited: 1) criminal prosecution, and 2) restoration of rights. If you fail the background check (PICS denial) when you are trying to buy a gun in Pennsylvania, you could unfortunately face criminal prosecution for a felony. Even if you thought you answered the questions correctly, many people are still prosecuted for their mistake. It is important to never make any statements to the police about your case without a lawyer present who is very familiar with firearms laws. There also may be an avenue to restore your rights if you are prohibited. At The Gun Law Firm, we have helped people restore their firearms rights since our inception.
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.
Can I buy a gun without a Columbia County background check in Pennsylvania?
If you might be prohibited from possessing firearms and can’t legally own a gun, it doesn’t matter whether you can buy a gun without a background check in Pennsylvania. Possessing a firearm would be illegal and can result in significant jail time. That being said, almost all firearms transfers in Pennsylvania require a background check through the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS). Under federal law, when you buy a gun from a dealer, you must fill out a Form 4473 and submit to a background check. It doesn’t matter if you are buying the gun at the store itself or at a gun show. Under Pennsylvania law, most handgun transfers between private parties must go through a dealer or the Sheriff’s office, and require the appropriate paperwork (Form 4473 and SP 4-113) and a PICS Check. There are very limited exceptions for handgun transfers between parent/child, grandparent/grandchild, and between spouses, provided both parties are Pennsylvania residents. Handgun transfers between residents of different states must take place through a dealer in the recipient’s home state under federal law. Transfers of conventional long guns (non-NFA shotguns and rifles) can take place between legally eligible Pennsylvania residents without any paperwork or a PICS Check, though many people opt to still perform these transfers through a dealer to have proof of the transfer. If the parties do not both reside in Pennsylvania, the transfer of conventional long guns (non-NFA shotguns and rifles) MUST take place through a dealer under federal law. Even in the specific circumstances where the law does not require a background check, the transfer would result in a crime if the recipient can’t legally own a gun.
How to Contact a Gun Lawyer in Columbia County for a Pennsylvania Pardon
At The Gun Law Firm, we know what it takes to bring out the very best in you when you apply for a Pardon in Pennsylvania. We have helped our clients get pardons and have sat through hundreds of hearings before the Board of Pardons since 2016. If you contact our office, we offer a free case strategy session by telephone. We will help you determine if a you are a good candidate for a pardon. You can call our office to schedule a free case strategy session. Because we are very busy helping people restore their rights, be sure to leave your contact information if you reach our answering service, and someone from our team will call you back shortly. If you prefer, you can fill out the “Contact Us” form on our website, and someone at our office will reach out to you as quickly as possible.
How can I find out if I can legally own a gun in Pennsylvania?
When you buy a gun in Columbia County, the dealer must run a background check called a PICS Check (Pennsylvania Instant Check System). You can only run a PICS Check in connection with a transfer or if you are applying for a License to Carry Firearms (concealed carry license). When you are filling out the paperwork to buy a gun or apply for a License to Carry Firearms (concealed carry license) you should NEVER GUESS for any of your answers. If you fail the background check (PICS denial) when you are trying to buy a gun in Pennsylvania, you could face criminal prosecution for a felony! Even if you thought you answered the questions correctly, many people are still prosecuted for their mistake. At The Gun Law Firm, we have performed firearms eligibility investigations for our clients since 2016 to avoid this problem. We thoroughly review our clients’ criminal records, mental health records, and much more to determine whether you can legally own a gun in Pennsylvania.