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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.
PENNSYLVANIA · The state's own restoration route · on Oct 9, 2026
A route exists
- In short
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105(d) lets the court of common pleas grant relief on any one of three grounds: the conviction has been vacated; the conviction has been the subject of a full pardon by the Governor; or, on the third ground, BOTH (i) the federal government has relieved the applicant of the federal disability AND (ii) ten years, not counting incarceration, have passed since the most recent enumerated conviction. The court may waive condition (i) if it finds that Congress "has not appropriated sufficient funds" for the federal relief to be granted. Expungement of a pardoned conviction is automatic under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a.1): the Board of Pardons notifies the courts quarterly and the court orders the expungement.
- Route
- Relief from the disability under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105(d); also a Pardon from the Governor
- Who decides
- Court of common pleas of the county of principal residence; or the Governor on the Board of Pardons' recommendation
- Waiting period
- Pardon: none — the Board says "There are no specific requirements." § 6105(d) third ground: ten years, not counting incarceration, AND federal relief (or a court waiver where Congress has not funded federal relief); the vacated-conviction and full-pardon grounds have no waiting period
- Fee
- No fee is published for the pardon application; the § 6105(d) court route is a county civil filing and was not verified
- What it restores
- State firearm rights
- Without this route, does the state firearm bar stay?
- Yes
- Official form
- https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/bop/documents/apply-for-clemency/documents/2025-clemency-application/bop-clemency-application-may-2025.pdf
- Effective
- —
- Next scheduled change
- None scheduled in the sources checked
- Statute / rule
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105; 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(a.1) · Pennsylvania Board of Pardons — clemency application
- Checked
- Verified Sep 19, 2026
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
- 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(20) — official text — checked Oct 8, 2026
- 27 CFR 478.11 — definitions — checked Oct 8, 2026
- DOJ — 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(4) and mental health — checked Oct 8, 2026
- DOJ — Frequently asked questions — checked Oct 8, 2026