Is it possible for a felon with a sealed criminal record to own a gun in the state of Illinois? This guide explains.

Can a Felon With a Sealed Record Own a Gun?

In the state of Illinois, anyone who has been convicted of a felony is not allowed to own a firearm. That means if you have an active criminal record, you can’t go out and buy a gun. But what if your criminal record is sealed?

In order to obtain a Firearm Owner’s Identification card, or FOID, you must submit to a fingerprint based background check. Even if your criminal record is sealed, it will show up on this type of background check. That means the state of Illinois will know that you were convicted of a felony in the past, and it may deny your FOID card application.

Related: Do arrests show up on a background check?

If you were not convicted of a felony, you may still be eligible for a FOID card. Additionally, if you were arrested but never charged, charged but found not guilty, or your case was dismissed, you are most likely still eligible to own a firearm unless you have other circumstances that make you ineligible.

What’s Your Alternative if You’re a Felon With a Record?

If you have a criminal record, the only way to erase it completely is to have it expunged. However, you may only get a record expunged if you weren’t convicted of a crime (Except in very limited circumstances).

Related: Can you get a FOID card with an expunged record?

Your best bet may be to talk to a Chicago expungement attorney who can review your case and look at your criminal record to determine whether you’re eligible for expungement or sealing.

Do You Need to Talk to a Lawyer About Criminal Record Expungement?

If you’re thinking about clearing your criminal record, we may be able to help you. Call us at 847-920-4540 or fill out the form below now for a free case review.

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