Can Felons Still Use Hunting Rifles?

If you’re facing felony charges, you know that one of the ramifications may be that you lose your right to own firearms. This means that you can’t even possess them, so you’re not allowed to simply borrow a gun from someone else. If you have that stipulation on your record, you can’t use guns at all.

But maybe you’re an avid hunter. You don’t care about driving around with a pistol in your car or owning a semi-automatic rifle. You just want to use a shotgun or a bolt-action rifle to go hunting. Are you still allowed to do this or not?

You’re facing a permanent firearms ban

What you need to know about your felony record is that it could lead to a permanent firearms ban, and that applies to all possible firearms that you could own. It doesn’t matter if it’s a bolt action rifle that only holds three rounds or if it’s a semi-automatic rifle that can hold far more. You are not allowed to own a firearm at all, so this means that you will no longer be able to go hunting.

As noted above, borrowing weapons is also illegal. Many people are tempted to go hunting with a friend or family member and simply use a gun that they own. If you do this, you need to know that you could be subjected to very serious charges if you are caught. Possessing a gun that is not your own is still illegal.

This is just one reason why it’s very important to look into all of your legal defense options if you are facing felony charges in North Carolina.