Federal ruling could allow some Kentucky felons to possess a gun. Here's why

Taylor Six, Lexington Herald-Leader on Aug 26, 2026

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentuckians convicted of felonies could have their gun rights restored —if they meet a strict set of criteria — after the federal government revived a program defunded by Congress in 1992.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it will consider firearm rights restoration for convicted felons, who are forbidden from owning guns under the law. The DOJ estimates that nearly 30 million people are not allowed to possess a firearm, and there are about 300,000 felons in the commonwealth, according to the state’s American’s Civil Liberties Union.

Kentucky’s felon-in-possession statute contains an exception for people granted relief under the federal Gun Control Act. The federal grant revival resolves federal and state prohibitions for many applicants.

Dan Parker, who leads Bluegrass Gun Rights, a restoration practice of Lexington law firm Clark + Harris, said in a news release that people will need to have a lot of information gathered for successful restoration.

The revived program keeps framework that requires sworn character affidavits, certified court records, fingerprints and a personal statement. The final decision is made at the discretion of the attorney general.

“The application window opens September 21, and the line is going to be long,” Parker said in a news release. “The people who spend the next month gathering certified records and affidavits will be ready on day one. That’s the whole game.”

The program will be implemented in phases, with the government expecting nearly 1 million applicants in the first year.

Who in Kentucky can apply to have gun rights restored?

Only certain people with felony convictions can apply for consideration, according to the DOJ.

Anyone who is waiting for sentencing, incarcerated, participating in diversion program, a fugitive, or a person in active addiction to controlled substances (excluding marijuana) is ineligible.

People convicted of violent crimes, including murder, rape, human trafficking, drug trafficking, domestic violence, burglary or arson, are also not eligible.

The application process will be done in phases, with the first phase set to begin Sept. 25 to “invited candidates,” or eligible people who will get invites, according to the DOJ.

The application process will open to 5,000 members of the public Nov. 4.

“This is a document-heavy process, and honesty matters more than hope,” said Bradley Clark, managing member of Clark + Harris. “Some people are strong candidates and some are not, and telling people the truth about which they are is the service.”

The Bluegrass Gun Rights group has an eligibility screening tool available on its website.