Brodin Legal

Brodin Legal handles a problem most gun owners don't know exists: Minnesota can restore your firearm rights, but federal law might still prohibit you from owning a gun. That's not theoretical—it's a 10-year federal felony waiting to happen if you get it wrong.

"Just because Minnesota restores your right to own a gun does not necessarily mean you are legally allowed to possess one under federal law."

Felony convictions and domestic violence offenses trigger automatic firearm bans in Minnesota. Some restrictions lift automatically after sentencing completion. Others—violent felonies, certain domestic cases—require a court petition for restoration. Minnesota courts will review your rehabilitation, time elapsed, and public safety risk before deciding.

The problem: Minnesota's restoration doesn't always restore all civil rights. A judge might return your gun rights without restoring voting rights or eligibility for public office. Under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)), that incomplete restoration means you're still federally prohibited. You think you're legal. You're not.

Federal law doesn't care what Minnesota courts approve. If you were convicted of a felony punishable by more than one year in prison, federal law permanently bars firearm ownership unless your complete civil rights are restored—not just gun rights. That's the gap.

There's no federal petition process to fix this. Your options are limited:

• •Presidential pardon (extremely rare)
• •Expungement or clemency (may work, may not—federal agencies often argue the restriction stays)
• •Constitutional challenge in federal court (complex, case-specific, requires experienced counsel)

Instead of treating state restoration as the finish line, Jake Brodin analyzes both Minnesota and federal law to determine if you're actually clear to own a firearm. If federal restrictions remain, he explores alternative paths:

• •Expungement strategies
• •Clemency applications
• •Federal constitutional challenges
• •Full civil rights restoration approaches

The goal: full Second Amendment rights under both state and federal law—not a half-measure that creates felony liability.

• •Gun rights restoration petitions (Minnesota state level)
• •Federal/state firearm law analysis
• •Expungement and clemency assistance
• •Constitutional firearm rights challenges
• •Criminal defense (DUI, assault, drug crimes, theft)
• •Divorce and family law
• •Estate planning

Contact: (612) 888-4542 | [email protected] | Minneapolis, MN | Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM