Does anyone know if this is legal or a good idea in general?

[ny32182]

My cousin just got married and lives in Alaska. He is 24 years old.

Unfortunately, when he was younger, he did his fair share of hell raising, and has a criminal history. Specifically, he is a convicted felon. He was convicted of a felony for breaking a car window and removing some music CD's. How this wasn't plead down to something else I don't know, but I digress...

Anyhow, maybe I just say this because he's my cousin, but I believe he is a reformed individual. He hasn't been in trouble for a while, just settled down, has a steady job in construction, etc. He may be coming to visit me at some point. If he does, first of all, is it legal for him to stay in a house with firearms in it? Secondly, is it legal for him to come shooting with me? Personally I wouldn't have any problem trusting him with/around firearms, but I'd like to know what the law says about it, because I don't want to do anything that would get either of us charged with a crime.

 

[beerslurpy]

He can reside in the house with the firearms, but I am not sure about you giving him firearms to shoot at the range. That is probably a no-no. Then again, it is not like anyone will check.

Gordon Liddy became a felon after Watergate, but his wife has an extensive firearms collection.

 

[Jeeper]

He was convicted of a felony for breaking a car window and removing some music CD's.

That is called stealing not removing.

I dont think that he can handle them. I also think you are probably in violation for giving them to him.

I think that felons convicted on non-dangerous crimes should get this right back after a certain time period.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

is it legal for him to stay in a house with firearms in it?

Yes, but he cannot have access to firearms. Either keep them locked in the safe or on your person.

is it legal for him to come shooting with me?

No.

Your cousin may want to get an attorney and look into having his civil rights restored or the conviction expunged or pardoned.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Exactly what Hkmp5sd said.

Your cousin can tag along and watch you shoot, but he cannot handle the firearms (and probably cannot even handle the ammo). To avoid any questions, it would be best if you just keep the guns locked away and don't go shooting while he is a guest in your house.

 

[ny32182]

Ok, thanks for the info. That was going to be my guess anyhow.

 

[Standing Wolf]

That is called stealing not removing.

Probably not even called "borrowing," either.

 

[Taurus 66]

is it legal for him to stay in a house with firearms in it?

This depends on what is currently law in the state of Alaska. I know that in my state (New York), I was told by a corrections officer I'm not allowed to have someone on parole live with me because of the guns. I'm not sure about the felon who has kept clean for a specific period of time after parole-end.

To keep your freedoms with firearms possession safe, do "first" what the state of Alaska says. Then second you can listen to what your cousin, friends, bar buddies, us, may have to say (if anything).

 

[ny32182]

I will say that I don't know this for sure, but I don't think he was ever on "parole". I do know for sure that he never served any time in jail other than a few days after he was arrested. I do know he was on probation of some sort; don't know if that is over yet or not.

Also, I'm in SC, and he would be coming here... SC laws would apply, rather than Alaskan laws, right?

Like a couple people said, the best idea is probably just to leave the guns locked up while he is here.

 

[CAS700850]

Okay, let's get a couple of things straight.

1. He was charged and convicted of Felony Theft. This is probably not a federal crime, so the federal "disability" laws don't apply.

2. This was in his past, possibly even when he was a juvenile. He needs to check into the law of the state where this occurred to see if he can get the record sealed or expunged. Depending on the law of that state, he may also need to seek to have the disability removed, in other words seek permission to possess or own firearms.

3. In some states, Ohio included, not all felony offenses create "disability." In Ohio, it needs to be one of certain drug offenses, or felony offenses of violence, in order to create the disability.

4. The laws of South Carolina and the state where the offense occurred may be important here. He may not be legally prohibited by South Carolina law, but may violate any probation terms he is on in the first state by handling the firearm.

Good luck,

Chris