Anyone know the rules on Covicted felons being able to own an airgun in Florida?

I have never known any airgun guy or firearm guy to be a convicted felon, but nearly the exact opposite: law abiding, respectful members of society trying to educate and have responsible fun.

That you know of, not every felon goes around advertising that they are felons. They paid their debt and want to put it behind them. Nothing wrong with that.
 
I have never known any airgun guy or firearm guy to be a convicted felon, but nearly the exact opposite: law abiding, respectful members of society trying to educate and have responsible fun.

That you know of, not every felon goes around advertising that they are felons. They paid their debt and want to put it behind them. Nothing wrong with that.

Depends on what the debt is. Did you kill someone?



None of my friends are felons. I have a pretty tight group, and they are all kosher+couple of them work in law enforcement. You should know your friends well enough to know their background. I am not saying not to be friends with a rehabilitated felon, but I am saying you should know your friends.


People do many bad things in their past, and sometimes they are wrongfully prosecuted (rare but I have seen it) or over charged by a prosecutor and convicted for a charge that should have been a misdemeanor. There are gross negligence felonies too where an individual made some horrible mistakes that ended with prison time.



Hence, be careful, shoot careful, and be responsible in all aspects of your life.



As for the OP, I would consult a lawyer with your parole docs in hand, and subsequently your parole officer. Pay for the session. Don’t just ask someone. If you are cleared for it, get a hunting license and do the hunter’s course - the last thing you want is another misdemeanor or felony adding to your record like child endangerment when shooting in the direction of a house with kids or within a certain distance of a school or school bus stop (yes that stuff can come into play). I would also talk to your lawyer about safe transport as every state has different laws, and especially being a convicted felon you should take transporting an airgun with a lot of serious precaution - something that looks like a gun and for all intensive purposes in the eyes the officer with two kids at home IS a gun if visible (they pull your record with your license plate or DL obviously).



If it were me, and I hate to say it, I would steer clear of anything that even looks like a gun. It isn’t worth your newly obtained release and life. If it were I, I would pursue bow hunting.



Sorry about being contrary. If you decide to go through with it, consult lawyer and not a forum.



-Lt
 
You certainly should exercise care. I read of one guy who had panicky neighbors call the police and gotten him prosecuted for brandishing for simply bringing his rifle out to the trunk of his car in his own driveway. With all the anti-gun propaganda these days, don't assume reasonable behavior on your own part will be good enough. You may have to be unreasonably careful and circumspect if you want to get by.
 
When taken to court Federal Law generally prevails.

Firearms are Federally regulated and the feds dont like to give in.

Please refrain from talking out of your brown eye. If you break state mandated law that carries a felony you will go to state prison. After you have been sentenced, you may apply to federal court to appeal the decision. Those appeals take years before a federal court reviews your case. By then you will get acquainted with all the fine gentlemen behind bars and eat the finest food the state has to offer and maybe find true love. Now if you’re the type that likes to hang around guys all day and eat slop that a dog wouldn’t eat, then you will enjoy prison. Otherwise I would not IGNORE state law because you THINK that federal law will prevail. At this point you’re making false statements to save face for your previous false statement 

 
I have never known any airgun guy or firearm guy to be a convicted felon, but nearly the exact opposite: law abiding, respectful members of society trying to educate and have responsible fun.

Just because a person is a felon doesn’t mean they aren’t, the true concept of our judicial system is to bring a criminal back into society, 

If an individual is placed as an outcast for the rest of their life then why should they try to become part of society 

back on track ... As stated don’t trust internet resources go directly to the source call and speak with your local Justice of Peace or Law enforcement don’t just depend on just a state law check your local ordinances as sometimes city our county ordinance can be more restrictive than the state itself 
 
I have never known any airgun guy or firearm guy to be a convicted felon, but nearly the exact opposite: law abiding, respectful members of society trying to educate and have responsible fun.

That you know of, not every felon goes around advertising that they are felons. They paid their debt and want to put it behind them. Nothing wrong with that.

Depends on what the debt is. Did you kill someone?



None of my friends are felons. I have a pretty tight group, and they are all kosher+couple of them work in law enforcement. You should know your friends well enough to know their background. I am not saying not to be friends with a rehabilitated felon, but I am saying you should know your friends.


People do many bad things in their past, and sometimes they are wrongfully prosecuted (rare but I have seen it) or over charged by a prosecutor and convicted for a charge that should have been a misdemeanor. There are gross negligence felonies too where an individual made some horrible mistakes that ended with prison time.



Hence, be careful, shoot careful, and be responsible in all aspects of your life.



As for the OP, I would consult a lawyer with your parole docs in hand, and subsequently your parole officer. Pay for the session. Don’t just ask someone. If you are cleared for it, get a hunting license and do the hunter’s course - the last thing you want is another misdemeanor or felony adding to your record like child endangerment when shooting in the direction of a house with kids or within a certain distance of a school or school bus stop (yes that stuff can come into play). I would also talk to your lawyer about safe transport as every state has different laws, and especially being a convicted felon you should take transporting an airgun with a lot of serious precaution - something that looks like a gun and for all intensive purposes in the eyes the officer with two kids at home IS a gun if visible (they pull your record with your license plate or DL obviously).



If it were me, and I hate to say it, I would steer clear of anything that even looks like a gun. It isn’t worth your newly obtained release and life. If it were I, I would pursue bow hunting.



Sorry about being contrary. If you decide to go through with it, consult lawyer and not a forum.



-Lt

I could not have said it any better, we are on the same page.
 
Airguns are not "FireArms"

There is no State exemptions in the US regarding air-powered devices.

Some States do address parole/probation limitations on knives.

You wont find one for air rifles/pistols.

The disinfo clowns need to zip it for sure.

Google expertice failed them again.

Follow State hunting regulations regarding the taking of species.

FWIW you can kill a boat load of iguana statewide everyday.

We feed'em to the gators in the ditches

grossly irresponsible advice IMHO and factually wrong with states like New Jersey.
 
Don’t forget that you can have parole conditions or terms regarding your specific release, like a restraint from air rifles/bb guns, especially with a conviction like unlawfully branishing a weapon or intimidation with one previously. There are a whole host of conditions where your parole conditions restricted your use of an airgun, even if it is legal in your state and local municipality.
 
I don't intend any disrespect to any LEO's, but their level of training varies widely, and they are not trained at the level of attorneys to interpret the law. I would consult attorneys about the law and its usual interpretation and application. It may not be free, but freedom is worth keeping at virtually any cost.


I'm not a local or state officer. But I am Federal. You're correct on this, with a few exceptions. Gun laws and ordinances can range widely county to county. At times your Local PD will have more insight to typical local laws/rules. That being said it wont be the lawyer showing up with handcuffs if you do something wrong. Checking with local PD on "simple" matters can yield a less complex result. Keep in mind, for as much education as lawyers have, you can always find two that disagree and interpret law differently. Same goes for Judges. You can usually avoid that quagmire by checking with police. If you ask them, and they say its "ok" its probably a good indicator that you wont be getting arrested by that specific department, and you can avoid ever needing lawyer in the first place. The last thing you want is to be in holding cell saying "my lawyer said." It might be true, but its a little late. You may plead your case and win, but at a high cost of not just money, but stress anxiety ect ect. OK done rambling sorry.

(side note: when you have a question for local PD's send it in email, not a phone call. Should something come up, you at least have a record communication that shows du regard to abide by, and understand the local laws. Its hard to prosecute successfully when and agency meant to enforce those laws gives you the all clear)
 
Airguns are not "FireArms"

There is no State exemptions in the US regarding air-powered devices.

Some States do address parole/probation limitations on knives.

You wont find one for air rifles/pistols.

The disinfo clowns need to zip it for sure.

Google expertice failed them again.

Follow State hunting regulations regarding the taking of species.

FWIW you can kill a boat load of iguana statewide everyday.

We feed'em to the gators in the ditches

Yikes, you mixed in some nuggets of truth wrapped in some flat out dangerous non-factual information.
 
I don't intend any disrespect to any LEO's, but their level of training varies widely, and they are not trained at the level of attorneys to interpret the law. I would consult attorneys about the law and its usual interpretation and application. It may not be free, but freedom is worth keeping at virtually any cost.


(side note: when you have a question for local PD's send it in email, not a phone call. Should something come up, you at least have a record communication that shows du regard to abide by, and understand the local laws. Its hard to prosecute successfully when and agency meant to enforce those laws gives you the all clear)

I like this idea. I'm not an attorney myself, but my father and grandfather were, and I worked in law offices for decades. One thing that I've learned is that a paper trail is immensely helpful, often determinative. Anyone ever watch Judge Judy? "Do you have the receipts?" People claim all kinds of things, but paper trails help prevent lies and omissions from claiming many easy victories.
 
^ Evidence for consulting a lawyer only comes with paying them. Also, the lawyer can inquire on your behalf to both the probation officer and/local police and sheriffs departments...and that is who you want doing it. Intentionality to abide by the law goes a long way, and even longer if you pay a man of law to figure it out for you. 



A lot of bad advice has been given on this thread, most of all trying to avoid a lawyer. When you get a heart attack you don’t go to a CVS or Walgreens for advice from the checker, but rather you go to the Dr who has 15 years of education in medicine. The same is true for law. If you have a question about the law, cops can be helpful but tragically they can be dead wrong and have different notions about the local laws within their very department, especially with junior versus senior officials. Instead, pay a couple hundred bucks to a person whose whole career and education is build surrounding keeping you out of prison. They get paid to make you legally in the clear: trust the established system.



-Lt
 
The same is true for law. If you have a question about the law, cops can be helpful but tragically they can be dead wrong and have different notions about the local laws within their very department


-Lt



Yes, however. This also goes for lawyers and Judges and entire courts, from local courts right up to the supreme court even the top level of our judicial system rarely has a unanimous decision. I don't necessarily think consulting a lawyer is better than consulting a local officer in every situation. Additionally, if your worried about the rank of the officer youre talking to you can always ask for an LT, CPT, SRG.

I'm not trying to say your wrong, its just the idea that a lawyer is a better option is not completely true but not completely false either. Again, Police are the ones doing the arresting. Not lawyers. So consider that you point out that some cops don't understand the law as well as a lawyer. This is actually more of a reason to contact the police where you plan to do XYZ action first.

If a lawyer gives you sound legal advice, and you base your actions on that lawyers advice you may still end up with the type of officer you described and you in a holding cell. Now suppose you tell them "my lawyer said....." I personally hear this from people Ive served warrants on countless times. It means nothing. ive sceen lawyer show up at jails and say I'm wrong..still means nothing. Many police or agents will err on the side of caution, make the arrest and let the courts figure it out. Now, if that same officer arrests you, and you say "I spoke with/or communicated with you're Captain Tommy Jones, and he said this was fine. Its very very likely that officer will check that out. And your odds of being arrested and fighting out right or wrong in the legal system is greatly reduced.

I guess my point is. You can greatly reduce the getting into a legal mess, if you can avoid getting arrested in the first place. a great strategy is to ask the people who do the arresting if they would arrest you. Better yet, Talk to police first, Then cross reference it with a attorney. Better yet, Email the County or Distract DA. 

"if the end brings me out wrong a thousand angels(lawyers) swearing I was right will make no difference"
 
Not all "felons" are "violent crime felons"! In an article on crime, a respected prison warden once said: "Prison is full of good people who made bad decisions."

Back when I was teaching college courses, I had "convicted felons" in some of my classes. They were "you and me"...but due to carelessness, alcohol, recreational drugs, simple greed, road rage, or extreme situational anger, they got caught up into the system, were convicted, and served their time.

There are those among us, through dumb luck, circumstance, or clever attorneys, have been able to walk away from situations that had potential to ruin our lives.

Life can do that to anyone...move on, forget it, let it go. Make good use of the time left to you.



Regards,

Kindly 'Ol Uncle Hoot
 
The same is true for law. If you have a question about the law, cops can be helpful but tragically they can be dead wrong and have different notions about the local laws within their very department


-Lt



Yes, however. This also goes for lawyers and Judges and entire courts, from local courts right up to the supreme court even the top level of our judicial system rarely has a unanimous decision. I don't necessarily think consulting a lawyer is better than consulting a local officer in every situation. Additionally, if your worried about the rank of the officer youre talking to you can always ask for an LT, CPT, SRG.

I'm not trying to say your wrong, its just the idea that a lawyer is a better option is not completely true but not completely false either. Again, Police are the ones doing the arresting. Not lawyers. So consider that you point out that some cops don't understand the law as well as a lawyer. This is actually more of a reason to contact the police where you plan to do XYZ action first.

If a lawyer gives you sound legal advice, and you base your actions on that lawyers advice you may still end up with the type of officer you described and you in a holding cell. Now suppose you tell them "my lawyer said....." I personally hear this from people Ive served warrants on countless times. It means nothing. ive sceen lawyer show up at jails and say I'm wrong..still means nothing. Many police or agents will err on the side of caution, make the arrest and let the courts figure it out. Now, if that same officer arrests you, and you say "I spoke with/or communicated with you're Captain Tommy Jones, and he said this was fine. Its very very likely that officer will check that out. And your odds of being arrested and fighting out right or wrong in the legal system is greatly reduced.

I guess my point is. You can greatly reduce the getting into a legal mess, if you can avoid getting arrested in the first place. a great strategy is to ask the people who do the arresting if they would arrest you. Better yet, Talk to police first, Then cross reference it with a attorney. Better yet, Email the County or Distract DA. 

"if the end brings me out wrong a thousand angels(lawyers) swearing I was right will make no difference"

Officer's who arrest people because of what they believe the laws should be have no place in enforcement. Also what you describe is a very lazy and careless way to enforce laws. Ruining peoples lives because your(any officer) to lazy or careless to make sure the arrest is correct need to face disciplinary repercussions commensurate with the offence they charge the suspect with.
 
The same is true for law. If you have a question about the law, cops can be helpful but tragically they can be dead wrong and have different notions about the local laws within their very department


-Lt



Yes, however. This also goes for lawyers and Judges and entire courts, from local courts right up to the supreme court even the top level of our judicial system rarely has a unanimous decision. I don't necessarily think consulting a lawyer is better than consulting a local officer in every situation. Additionally, if your worried about the rank of the officer youre talking to you can always ask for an LT, CPT, SRG.

I'm not trying to say your wrong, its just the idea that a lawyer is a better option is not completely true but not completely false either. Again, Police are the ones doing the arresting. Not lawyers. So consider that you point out that some cops don't understand the law as well as a lawyer. This is actually more of a reason to contact the police where you plan to do XYZ action first.

If a lawyer gives you sound legal advice, and you base your actions on that lawyers advice you may still end up with the type of officer you described and you in a holding cell. Now suppose you tell them "my lawyer said....." I personally hear this from people Ive served warrants on countless times. It means nothing. ive sceen lawyer show up at jails and say I'm wrong..still means nothing. Many police or agents will err on the side of caution, make the arrest and let the courts figure it out. Now, if that same officer arrests you, and you say "I spoke with/or communicated with you're Captain Tommy Jones, and he said this was fine. Its very very likely that officer will check that out. And your odds of being arrested and fighting out right or wrong in the legal system is greatly reduced.

I guess my point is. You can greatly reduce the getting into a legal mess, if you can avoid getting arrested in the first place. a great strategy is to ask the people who do the arresting if they would arrest you. Better yet, Talk to police first, Then cross reference it with a attorney. Better yet, Email the County or Distract DA. 

"if the end brings me out wrong a thousand angels(lawyers) swearing I was right will make no difference"

Officer's who arrest people because of what they believe the laws should be have no place in enforcement. Also what you describe is a very lazy and careless way to enforce laws. Ruining peoples lives because your(any officer) to lazy or careless to make sure the arrest is correct need to face disciplinary repercussions commensurate with the offence they charge the suspect with.

I 100% agree with you, but it is true many officers do not properly execute the law or have misunderstandings or ignorance of others. In some ways, that is expected. Take California, where I live, we have more than 22,000 gun laws on the books here. An officer isn’t going to know them all. But let’s say you are a parole and get in trouble for a minor misdemeanor, and then a prosecutor sees that you were breaking another law in addition to what the officer arrested you for...there are a plethora of ways in which the law can be either unfairly executed, not understood, or not known by an officer, and it is ultimately not the officers job to be your accountability partner. That is why a lawyer is best - and they will talk to your parole officer on your behalf and look at your court docs and release papers. 



But we are all in charge of our freedom. I don’t think talking to the cops is ever a good idea (and I love cops). Thanks for the input @John_in_Ma, I always appreciate your judgement.



- Lt