Can I take a felon to the shooting range?
As other answers state: No. A felon cannot touch a firearm at all. Or ammunition. If they pick it up they are now felon-in-possession. Intent and past circumstances do not matter when it comes to firearms. If they so much as lay a finger on a firearm they can be charged. Any kind of contact with the firearm is considered possession under the law.A few years ago I was at a gun show in Virginia. Pretty big one and one I attend regularly. So I know its tempo and feel. Went each day. On the third day there was a sign on the door that wasn't there the day before. It read:"Do not enter these premises if you have been convicted of any felony or crime involving domestic violence or are under a restraining order. It is unlawful for you to handle firearms or ammunition. Any persons attempting to do so will be arrested and charged. - Fairfax County Police".Seems someone decided to try to buy something they weren't allowed to have and got caught. I've actually seen someone walked out in police custody at a gun show. Want to know the hint that fun is about to ensue? Wait for the public announcement that so-and-so should report to the front regarding your paperwork. In general they do not announce completed, passed backgroud checks over the PA. You give the dealer your cell phone or tell them you'll wander back in a little while. A public announcement means someone would like to talk to you most earnestly because Clarksburg found some interesting things they've just shared with others. If you go to a gun range, lie on the waivers and the staff even gets so much as sniff that they think you're a felon, they'll call the police and they'll then disarm and arrest the individual on the lane. And if they think you had prior knowledge of the person's felony status, they'll arrest you too. Depending on the mood of the local attorney you may wind up learning a great deal about felon-in-possession laws in a very personal way.Depending on jurisdiction, it is lawful for felons to use and possess black powder firearms and strangely, possess cartridge-fed antique arms. But they wouldn't be able to use said antiques as possession of the ammunition is verboten. But do check local laws. They are out of luck in New Jersey, for example. Other states treat different types of arms in different ways. Some places consider an air gun a firearm when it comes to felons.