It depends heavily on what took your rights away in the first place. For an adult felony conviction, sealing your record does not restore firearm rights, the only path back is a pardon from the Colorado governor, which generally requires having completed your entire sentence, including probation, at least 10 years earlier, along with a demonstrated record of good character. For a juvenile adjudication, expungement may be available and can restore those rights more directly.
Why this surprises so many people
A lot of people assume that once their record is sealed, everything tied to the old conviction goes away, including firearm restrictions. For an adult felony, that’s specifically not true, and understanding this distinction early avoids a lot of wasted effort pursuing the wrong process.
What to do next
If you’re facing this in Colorado, call Mile High Legal at (720) 853-5779 for a free consultation. The earlier a defense attorney gets involved, the more options are usually still on the table.
