Relief from 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(4)
18 U.S.C. 922(g)(4) states that individuals adjudicated as mentally defective or involuntarily committed to a mental institution are federally prohibited from possessing firearms. The following resources may help with restoration of federal firearm rights for those individuals who become competent and rehabilitated.
This information is intended as a resource to assist an applicant. None of the information on this page is legal advice, and it may be subject to change. You should always check with your specific state, territory or agency to find out more.
A state or agency relief-from-disability program
Your federal firearm rights may be restored through a state, territory, or agency program. There are different types of programs across the United States, but generally they exist in the form of:
- a judicial petition or motion;
- an application to an agency; or
- a process described by state law.
The map and links at the bottom of this page contains resources for programs throughout the United States. It might help to explore the resources for both the location where you incurred the firearm disability and your place of current residence. Click on a state or territory to open a linked webpage. The following locations do not have a relief-from-disability program, but this list is subject to change: Arkansas, Montana, New Hampshire, Wyoming, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands.
Note: Some relief-from-disability programs restore state firearm rights only.
Federal Firearm Rights Restoration
Your federal firearm rights may be restored through the Federal Firearm Rights Restoration (FFRR) application (OMB Form #1123-0017). Read the below carefully to find out more about how a state or agency relief-from-disability program interacts with the FFRR application:
| Your history with a state or agency relief-from-disability program | How it relates to the FFRR process |
|---|---|
| You never applied, but you are eligible to apply | You are presumptively disqualified from FFRR relief |
| Your application is pending | You are presumptively disqualified from FFRR relief |
| Your application was denied | You are presumptively disqualified from FFRR relief |
| Your application was granted, and the program meets the requirements of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 | You no longer have a prohibition under 922(g)(4). You DO NOT need FFRR relief |
| Your application was granted, but your federal firearm rights prohibitions continue under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(4) | You are eligible to apply for FFRR relief without any presumption |
