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State restoration routes

What your state's own remedy is, who decides it, how long it takes, what it costs, and what it does — and does not — do about the separate federal bar. One row for each jurisdiction that we have checked, with its statute and the day we checked it.
3. Date (today or later)

NORTH-CAROLINA · The state's own restoration route · on Oct 9, 2026

A route exists

In short
The strictest waiting period in the sample and the best-documented route. North Carolina also engages the federal question directly: § 14-415.4(b) tells a person with a federal conviction to obtain relief "in the jurisdiction where the conviction occurred", and § 14-415.4(h) directs the clerk to forward a granted order to the NICS index. Citizenship restoration under § 13-1 is automatic but is not enough on its own.
Route
Restoration of firearms rights (a district-court petition)
Who decides
District court
Waiting period
At least 20 years after civil rights were restored under Chapter 13 (§ 14-415.4(c)); for an out-of-state conviction, at least 20 years since unconditional discharge. Residency: one year or longer in North Carolina immediately before filing (§ 14-415.4(d)(1))
Fee
$200.00, with an indigency exception
What it restores
Yes, state law only — the statute is headed "Not an Expunction or Pardon"
Without this route, does the state firearm bar stay?
Yes. Automatic restoration of citizenship (G.S. 13-1) is not enough; the § 14-415.4 petition is the restoration route. The bar also does not apply to a person who, under the law where the conviction occurred, "has been pardoned or has had his or her firearms rights restored if such restoration of rights could also be granted under North Carolina law" (G.S. 14-415.1(d)).
Official form
https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms — Search the court forms page for 'firearms'. The direct form link we had returned an error on 8 October 2026.
Who can use it
Only a person with one felony conviction, and it must be a nonviolent felony (G.S. 14-415.4)
Effective
—
Next scheduled change
None scheduled in the sources checked
Statute / rule
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-415.4; § 13-1 · North Carolina General Statutes § 14-415.4 (official PDF)
Checked
Verified Sep 19, 2026
What changed →

State law, with its statute and check date. We do not tell you whether your state's remedy cures your federal bar — that turns on your own facts and on federal case law, and it is the question to take to an attorney. Information only, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(20) — official text — checked Oct 8, 2026
  2. 27 CFR 478.11 — definitions — checked Oct 8, 2026
  3. DOJ — 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(4) and mental health — checked Oct 8, 2026
  4. DOJ — Frequently asked questions — checked Oct 8, 2026