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EspañolIf the abuser has been convicted of a crime, can s/he keep or buy a gun?
Kentucky law prohibits possession of a firearm by anyone convicted of a felony after July 15, 1994, even if the person was convicted as a “youthful offender.”1 Kentucky doesn’t have any restrictions on firearm possession for any other kinds of convictions.
Federal laws, which apply to all states, restrict an abuser’s right to have a gun if s/he was convicted of a felony or a domestic violence misdemeanor. Go to our Federal Gun Laws page for more information.
1 Ky. Rev. Stat. § 527.040(1), (3)
How can I find out if the abuser has been convicted of a crime?
Criminal records are open to the public, but they are not always easy to get to. If you know which courthouse the abuser’s case was in, you can go there and ask the clerk of court for access to those records.
Some criminal records are also kept in the federal government’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). However, only law enforcement officials and licensed firearm sellers are allowed to search the NICS. Your local police department may be willing to search NICS for you if you ask, but they don’t have to.
To read more about the NICS and background checks for gun buyers, see What will happen if the abuser tries to buy a gun?
