How do you restore firearm rights in Virginia?

Answer 1

All states have differing procedures and rules. See below for a generallized answer:

To request the expungement of an offense from your STATE (not Federal) criminal record: You must have been exonerated, acquited, or served the complete term of your sentence - then you must file a petition/motion with the court of the state in which you were convicted (which may not necessarily be your current state of residence) - setting forth valid reason(s) why your request should be granted. A judge of that court will review your petition and the circumstances of your case and issue a ruling either granting or denying the request. AN EXPUNGEMENT IS NOT A PARDON! Expungement only removes the record of your offense from being viewable by the public. Law enforcement, the courts, and government agencies will always have access to your actual 'true' record.

FELONS CONVICTED IN STATE COURT OF STATE CRIMES: If your expungement is granted you will still remain subject to whatever restrictions your state and Federal Laws place on you (e.g.- voting rights - elective office - firearms/ammunition possession - etc). UNLESS - you are a resident of a state which completely or partially restores your "privileges" (you will have to do your own research to learn if these exceptions apply to your state).

FEDERALLY CONVICTED FELONS: CAUTION: If you were convicted in FEDERAL Court of a FEDERAL FELONY regardless of what your state may do, it will not matter. It is a felony offense for any federally convicted felon to ever own or possess a firearm (including black powder arms). The U.S. Criminal Code, makes the penalty for the illegal possession of a firearm (including black powder weapons) a mandatory minimum of fifteen (15) years in prison, in some cases (Title 18 U.S.C. sec 924(e)(1). At this time FEDERALLY convicted felons have no solution to their firearm disqualification. Congress has continually denied funds this purpose, thereby effectively eliminating the review of federal felons' petitions for restoration of their firearms privileges.

Answer 2

If you are a Felon, a presidential pardon is the only way