Need info about "Restoration of Civil Rights" (voting, hold public office, gun, etc) for ex-con, please

Submitted by clay on Wed, 02/09/2011 - 02:47

MA Criminal Law (Traffic Violations/Defense) Questions and Answers

Hello,
I am doing some research for a friend (an actual friend, not a 'friend' who is actually me).

He was convicted of a drug trafficking charge at 18 and served a year in Massachusetts. He is now 30 and living in Florida with a clean record since. He is interested in owning a handgun , for target shooting not for Concealed Carry, but is unsure about the status of his "civil rights".

I read on another, seemingly reliable, site that in Mass an ex-con's Voting rights are restored upon release ( http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16529 ) , however further searches about "Civil rights restoration in Massachusetts" produces few results. (although research resources are readily available for restoring civil rights in OTHER states..such as http://www.aclufl.org/issues/voting_rights/applying_for_rights_restorati... , which allows you to apply for restoration of rights in FL, even if convicted in another state, if rights were not returned by that state)

Is it possible that Massachusetts simply restores ALL civil rights to ex-cons upon release, such as the right own a gun? Or is there a process required to have these rights restored? If the felony is expunged, would he be clear? Would a full pardon (Mass or Federal?) be necessary? How does a Mass ex-con go about having his/her full civil rights restored?

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