How do I restore my firearm rights in Virginia?

If you have been convicted of a felony, it is generally illegal to possess a firearm, ammunition or a stun weapon in Virginia unless your right to possess a firearm and other like items has been restored. You may petition the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia to restore other civil rights, such as your right to vote, become a notary public, serve on a jury or hold public office. However, if you wish to have your right to possess a firearm restored, that right must be restored by a court. In order to have your right to possess a firearm restored, you must first have your civil rights restored by the Governor or another appropriate authority. Once your civil rights have been restored, you may then petition the Circuit Court in the city or county where you reside for a permit to possess a firearm. The Court will conduct a hearing upon your request. The Court will exercise its discretion in deciding whether to grant or to deny your petition for a permit to possess a firearm. Ultimately the decision whether to restore your right to possess a firearm rests with the Court. If your civil rights have been restored and you are seeking to have your right to possess a firearm restored, I highly recommend hiring an experienced attorney to draft the petition and present evidence on your behalf in an effort to convince the Court to restore your right to possess a firearm.