Federal Gun Rights Restoration

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Firearm Purchase Denied at a Background Check (NICS) | Next Steps

Denied When Trying to Buy a Firearm?

When a federal background check (NICS) returns a “Denied” result, it means a record in the system — a conviction, a mental health adjudication, or sometimes an error — is blocking the sale. You have the right to find out why and to challenge or resolve the underlying issue.

Our Restoration Package helps you understand your denial, gather the right documentation, and pursue either a NICS appeal or a full federal rights restoration depending on your situation, with the option to bring in a licensed attorney for harder cases.

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What Is Federal Gun Rights Restoration?

Federal gun rights restoration is the legal process of asking the U.S. Department of Justice to lift a federal firearms prohibition under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) — commonly called “relief from disabilities.” For more than three decades, this program existed on paper but could not actually be used, because Congress blocked the ATF from spending any money to process applications. In 2025 and 2026, the Department of Justice rebuilt the program from the ground up and reopened it directly under the Attorney General.

If you lost your right to own a firearm because of a felony conviction, certain misdemeanors, a past mental health commitment, a dishonorable military discharge, or renouncing U.S. citizenship, federal gun rights restoration may be the only way to legally own a firearm again under federal law — even if your state has already restored your rights.

What To Do After a NICS Firearm Purchase Denial

Why the Background Check System Denied Your Purchase

NICS checks your record against federal and state databases; a disqualifying conviction, protective order, or adjudication will return a “Denied” result.

Appealing Through the NICS Appeal Process

If you believe the denial is based on an error, you can request the specific reason for your denial and file an appeal with the FBI or the relevant state point of contact.

When an Appeal Isn’t Enough

If the record is accurate and the disqualifier is still in effect, an appeal will not succeed — a full rights restoration is the path forward.

Getting Your Documentation Together

Court records, discharge paperwork, and other official documentation are typically needed whether you pursue an appeal or a restoration.

How the DOJ Federal Gun Rights Restoration Program Works

Unlike a state pardon or expungement, this is a direct federal petition. Here is what the Department of Justice actually looks at, and how the rollout is working:

  • Discretionary relief, not automatic. You must show the Attorney General you are not likely to act in a way dangerous to public safety, and that restoring your rights is not contrary to the public interest.
  • Staged rollout. DOJ is opening the program in phases: inviting early candidates first, then opening the online application to the public, with a modest filing fee (around $30, waivable for financial hardship) once the program reaches full capacity.
  • Waiting periods apply. Most non-violent cases face a presumed 5-year wait after completing your sentence; convictions involving violence generally require 10 years of a clean record after supervision ends.
  • Heavy documentation. DOJ expects certified court records, a criminal history report from every state you have lived in since age 18 (or the last 25 years), three sworn character references, and — depending on your case — military, mental health, or immigration records.
See the Full Document Checklist in Your Package

One Mistake Can Get Your Application Rejected

DOJ gives you 30 days to fix an incomplete application before it is treated as abandoned — not denied, just gone, with no refund and no guarantee of your place in line. The most common reasons applications stall are not complicated legal arguments. They are missing certified records, incomplete criminal history reports, character references who do not meet DOJ’s requirements, or forms filled out for the wrong type of prohibition. That is exactly what our package is built to prevent.

Your Federal Gun Rights Restoration Package

You do not need to spend thousands of dollars on an attorney to file a straightforward federal application correctly. Our Restoration Package walks you through the entire DOJ process step by step, built specifically around the 2026 rules.

  • A plain-English, step-by-step walkthrough of the entire 925(c) application
  • Your personalized document checklist, based on your specific type of prohibition
  • State-by-state instructions for pulling your criminal history records
  • Ready-to-use character reference letter templates that meet DOJ’s requirements
  • A pre-submission review checklist so you catch problems before DOJ does
  • Guidance on what to do if DOJ flags your application as incomplete
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Complex case, or a conviction on DOJ’s presumptive-denial list? Those cases need closer attorney review before filing — see below.

Do You Qualify for Federal Gun Rights Restoration?

You may be a good fit for self-filing if:

  • Non-violent felony conviction, sentence fully completed
  • A past mental health commitment that has been resolved, with current documentation
  • A dishonorable military discharge
  • Renounced U.S. citizenship
  • Certain misdemeanor convictions

Your case likely needs an attorney if:

  • Your conviction involved violence, a sexual offense, domestic violence, or trafficking
  • You are currently on probation, parole, or supervised release
  • DOJ has denied a previous application of yours
  • You are a fugitive or have an active protective order against you
Not Sure Which Track You’re On? Start Here

Package or Attorney? Here’s the Honest Answer

Most federal gun rights restoration cases are paperwork problems, not legal arguments — which is exactly what our package is designed to solve, at a fraction of attorney pricing. If DOJ’s rules put your conviction in a presumptive-denial category, or you have already been denied once, that is a different situation, and we recommend having a licensed attorney handle your case directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Federal gun rights restoration is the process of petitioning the U.S. Department of Justice under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) to remove a federal firearms prohibition. It is separate from any state-level restoration, pardon, or expungement.
Yes. After being unfunded for more than 30 years, DOJ reopened the federal relief-from-disabilities program in 2026. It is rolling out in stages, starting with invited candidates, then a public online application.
DOJ’s own filing fee is modest, expected to be around $30, with a waiver available for financial hardship. That is separate from the cost of preparing your application correctly, which is what our package helps with.
It depends on your conviction. Most non-violent cases face a presumed 5-year wait after completing your sentence; violence-related convictions generally require 10 years of a clean record after supervision ends. DOJ has not published a standard decision timeline once an application is submitted.
Not automatically. Federal restoration lifts the federal prohibition only. If your state has its own separate firearms restriction, you would still need to resolve that under state law.
DOJ will notify you of what is missing, and you generally have 30 days to fix it. If you do not, the application is treated as abandoned rather than denied, which is why getting it right the first time matters.
Not necessarily. Many applicants have straightforward, non-violent cases that do not require legal representation, just careful, correct paperwork, which is exactly what our package walks you through. More complex cases, including anything on DOJ’s presumptive-denial list, are better handled with an attorney, and we can connect you with one.

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This site is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Our restoration package provides educational, self-help materials to guide you through the DOJ’s federal application process. Outcomes are determined solely by the Department of Justice and are never guaranteed. For complex cases, we can refer you to an independent, licensed attorney.