As you likely know there are many ramifications of being convicted of a felony beyond incarceration. The personal, professional, and familial consequences can also be serious and long lasting. Those consequences are part of the reason the some individuals face such a challenge returning to a normal life after a period of incarceration.

Individuals convicted of a felony can also lose certain civil rights. They are no longer eligible to serve on a jury, or hold public office, and they may be barred from certain professions. Despite the Second Amendment and the traditional importance of firearms in Nevada, felons are also barred from owning firearms. While the federal law at least allows felons to own antique muzzle loading firearms, the Nevada Supreme Court recently ruled that felons in Nevada are not even allowed to own these collectibles.

The Nevada court said that even though federal law allows felons to carry black powder rifles, the law in Nevada forbids felons from possessing any firearm even if the gun is unloaded or inoperable.

In the case that gave rise to the court's decision, a man who had been convicted seven years ago for possession of a controlled substance was found to have a black powder rifle in the back seat of his car. The man had argued that as a non-violent offender he should not be prohibited from possessing an antique or replica, muzzle-loading gun. He court however did not accept his argument.

When facing criminal charges, there will often be pressure from the prosecution to enter into a plea agreement. At times this may include pleading guilty to a felony. While this may be a viable option in some situations, it is important to understand all of the potential consequences of a felony conviction and remember that you can always choose to fight these charges in court.

Source: Las Vegas Sun, "Ban on felons carrying firearms includes antique guns, court rules," Cy Ryan, Jan. 27, 2012