Lost your gun rights decades ago?
The federal government is finally taking applications to restore them.
For the first time since 1992, federal law offers a real path back: relief under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c). The final rule is out, and DOJ opens the application in phases — the first public window, November 4, is capped at 5,000 applications nationwide. We are Kentucky's dedicated restoration practice — we build your application now so it files the moment your window opens.
Request a Free Case Review Check Your Eligibility in 2 Minutes“Federal ruling could allow some Kentucky felons to possess a gun” — Aug. 26, 2026 · Read the article →
Why this moment matters
Congress defunded the federal restoration program in 1992, and for over thirty years there was no federal path back — even a full state pardon or expungement often left the federal prohibition in place. In 2025 the Department of Justice reclaimed the program and began granting relief; on August 20, 2026 it published the final rule, effective September 21. DOJ has published a phased schedule: September 25 — invited candidates; November 4 — first public window, capped at 5,000 applications nationwide; January 4, 2027 — 500 more, with the $30 fee beginning. DOJ says roughly 30 million Americans carry a federal firearms prohibition and projects about one million applications in the first year. Complete, well-documented applications ready on day one file ahead of that wave.
One application, both problems
Kentucky law (KRS 527.040) expressly recognizes federal Gun Control Act relief. For most Kentuckians, a § 925(c) grant addresses the federal and state prohibitions at once.
Documents win applications
Certified court records, local arrest records from everywhere you've lived in the last 25 years, fingerprints, three qualifying character references, and a supporting record that tells your story honestly. That's the work — and it's what we do.
Straight answers first
The final rule presumptively disqualifies some applicants. We tell you where you stand before you spend a dollar on the full package — and if you're not a good candidate, we'll tell you that too.
How it works
- Free case review. A short call with our team. We screen your history against the final rule's criteria and give you a straight answer.
- Eligibility review & records assessment ($500). We pull your record, map every conviction and jurisdiction, and deliver a written eligibility memo with a go/no-go recommendation. Credited toward the full package if you proceed.
- Application package ($2,500–$4,000 flat fee). Certified records, local arrest records, fingerprints, three qualifying character references, law-enforcement notification — assembled on DOJ’s official form, reviewed by a Kentucky attorney, and ready to file.
- We file the moment your application window opens — the first public window (Nov 4) is capped at 5,000 nationwide, so complete-and-ready is everything — then we track your application and keep you informed at every step.
Already getting your documents together?
Download our free 925(c) Document Checklist — every record the final rule requires, and where to get each one in Kentucky.
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