Nah. I think he is screwed. No matter what he does or how much he pays for his crime this is one of those things that never leaves you. He can vote of course_ since clearly that doesn't imply being responsible_ (witness the last election) but he can't carry.

This is where people get confused. They wonder how a state can suspend your 'right' to own a fire arm. Well the problem is firearm ownership isn't a 'right' at all. You second amendment people out there should think about this.

1. Federal law generally makes it a felony for a person to be in possession of a firearm if the person has any prior felony conviction.

2. Federal law contains an explicit statutory exception which provides that the federal criminal offense of firearms possession is inapplicable to persons who have had their civil rights restored on the predicate state felony conviction.(4)

3. Whether a person has had his or her civil rights restored for a state conviction is determined by state and NOT federal law.

4. The federal law requires that for federal law to recognize the state restoration of rights, the state restoration must include the right to vote, the right to seek and hold public office, and the right to serve on a jury. (5)

5. If the state restoration of rights includes the three aforementioned rights the federal law contains an additional federal "unless" clause which looks to state law to see if the state imposes any restriction on the right of the convicted felon to possess a weapon (e.g., some states such as North Carolina prohibit the subsequent possession of a handgun but would allow the individual to possess a rifle or shotgun).

6. If there is some added firearms restriction under state law then the federal "unless" clause is triggered to make the possession of any firearms unlawful under federal law notwithstanding the state's restoration of civil rights. Thus, if the state says that a restored-rights felon may possess a shotgun but not a pistol, the state has allowed the felon to possess the shotgun under state law BUT, because the state has created some firearm restriction for a convicted felon, this means that the federal prohibition applies with full force notwithstanding a state restoration of rights.


So in other words in CT you are screwed. Screwed beyond ever getting by the problem. Over_ done_ you loose_ can’t take it back no matter what it was. In some states you could get your possession ‘privileges’ back. Depends on the state. I’m not a lawyer so you should check with one in this state before you do anything but my guess is you are in for a tough time.

Hey_ I’m not an advocate of jumping behind the wheel of a multi-thousand pound vehicle and tossing down the highway at 60mph when you are toasted but if no one gets killed there are worse things you could do. Sorry about your buddy. Heavy price to pay.