If the abuser has been convicted of a crime, can s/he keep or buy a gun?
Kansas state law says that it is illegal the following criminals to own or possess a gun:
- someone who, within the past five years, has been convicted of a misdemeanor for a domestic violence offense in Kansas or a similar misdemeanor crime in another state. A domestic violence offense includes an offense where the abuser uses or attempts to use of physical force, or threatens to use a deadly weapon and is committed against a person with whom the abuser is involved or has been involved in a dating relationship or is a family or household member;
- someone who is a fugitive from justice, which means that the person knows that there is a warrant issued for him/her for committing a felony;1
- a person who has been convicted of a “person felony,” which are various drug crimes listed in sections K.S.A. § 21-36a01 through 21-36a17 of the law, or convicted of any violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act prior to July 1, 2009;
- someone who was a “juvenile offender” of:
- an act which comes under:
- the “person felony” crimes;
- Uniform Controlled Substances Act prior to July 1, 2009; or
- certain other felonies listed in K.S.A § 21-6304; and
- was in possession of a firearm when s/he committed the crime; or
- an act which comes under:
- someone who was convicted of certain felonies within the past five or ten years; or
- has been released from imprisonment for a felony.2
If any of these situations apply to the abuser, it may be illegal for him/her to have a gun. Also, federal laws, which apply to all states, may restrict an abuser’s right to have a gun. Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.
1 Kan. Stat. § 21-6301(a)(15), (a)(18), (m)(1), (m)(2)
2 Kan. Stat. § 21-6304(a)