Client’s Gun Rights Restored Two Years After Discharge from Probation

Kelly’s client was convicted of Fifth Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance in 2017 after a police officer smelled marijuana in his car during a traffic stop, leading to a lifetime loss of gun rights. Growing up, he went deer hunting with friends and his wife’s family owns hunting land in Northern Minnesota, so losing his rights was a big deal for Kelly’s client. He was also ashamed of the conviction so made excuses when people asked him to go hunting. Her client was discharged from his probation in 2019 and the prosecutor vigorously argued not enough time had passed since the offense and discharge from probation. Kelly was able to convince the judge to restore her client’s gun rights over the prosecutor’s objection so that he may now accept invitations to hunt and spend time with his wife and her relatives on their hunting land.