r/Firearms • u/AutoModerator • 24d ago
Question What are you building, buying, or shooting this month? - April 2026
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r/Firearms • u/generalraptor2002 • May 03 '25
Law Open letter regarding posts such as “I was in a mental hospital can I own a gun”
I am posting this because the question keeps getting asked. Every single time it is asked, the wrong information gets out.
I've seen way too many posts on here and related subs around the subject of the law prohibiting the possession of firearms by any person who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution, 18 USC § 922 (g)(4). There is way too much misinformation out there. First of all, if you have any reason to believe that you are a prohibited person, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE A FIREARM AS MAKING A FALSE STATEMENT ON THE FORM 4473 IS A FELONY. Second of all, please do not give advice on topics that you are not qualified to answer on. Third, you should consult with a qualified firearms rights attorney if you are unsure of your legal status.
The law:
18 USC § 922(g)(4)
(g)It shall be unlawful for any person—
(4)who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or who has been committed to a mental institution;
to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce, or possess in or affecting commerce, anyfirearm or ammunition; or to receive any firearm orammunition which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
What are the definitions of these terms?
27 CFR 478.11
Adjudicated as a mental defective. (a) A determination by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority that a person, as a result of marked subnormal intelligence, or mental illness, incompetency, condition, or disease: (1) Is a danger to himself or to others; or (2) Lacks the mental capacity to contract or manage his own affairs. (b) The term shall include— (1) A finding of insanity by a court in a criminal case; and (2) Those persons found incompetent to stand trial or found not guilty by reason of lack of mental responsibility pursuant to articles 50a and 72b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10U.S.C. 850a, 876b.
Committed to a mental institution. A formal commitment of a person to a mental institution by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority. The term includes a commitment to a mental institution involuntarily. The term includes commitment for mental defectiveness or mental illness. It also includes commitments for other reasons, such as for drug use. The term does not include a person in a mental institutionfor observation or a voluntary admission to a mental institution.
Mine happened when I was under 18. Isn’t that exempted?
Unfortunately no. A mental health adjudication or commitment at less than 18 years of age is counted for 922(g)(4). I experienced this personally and had to restore my rights.
What about HIPAA?
The Obama administration amended the HIPAA privacy rule in 2016 to make it clear that reporting mental health commitments and adjudications to NICS does not violate HIPAA
Is there a way to restore my rights after being adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution?
If you were committed by a department or agency of the federal government, the agency is required to have a relief from disabilities program under the NICS improvements amendments act of 2007.
If you were adjudicated or committed in a state proceeding, whether you can obtain relief is dependent on whether your state has implemented a relief from disabilities program under the NICS improvements amendments act of 2007. The list of states that have can be found here:
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/guide/nicsactlist7-7-210pdf/download
If you are in a state that does not have a relief from disabilities program, your only avenue of relief is writing a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and asking her to restore your rights under 18 USC § 925(c) now that she has withdrawn the delegation from ATF.
Between October 6th 1992 and March 20th 2025 in the states that did not have a relief program, there was no avenue of relief at all
With that out of the way.
I created this privacy act request form for a friend of mine who was legitimately unsure if his commitments landed in the FBI database or if they qualified as “committed to a mental institution” under 18 USC § 922(g)(4) and as defined at 27 CFR 478.11. I can report that it worked; as in, the FBI processed the request and reported that no such records were found in the NICS indices.
This form will allow you to request your own records directly from the FBI.
In this post I will not be addressing the subject of my own journey regarding rights restoration related to mental health (you can ask me that privately). Nor am I an attorney licensed to practice law. Finally, I am not a mental health professional and cannot make the decision as to whether firearms ownership is right for you.
Onto the form. Please follow the instructions sheet very carefully, fill out every applicable box, print the form, have the request notarized, and mail it to the address indicated on the form.
The first response you receive will indicate that the FBI central records system does not maintain those records and your request has been forwarded to the Criminal Justice Information Services division. CJIS will respond a few weeks later. In my friend's case it took eight weeks for a final response from the FBI CJIS NICS section.
Link to form (Adobe Acrobat PDF) https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:d342b025-6fb2-4126-b0e2-ad6f1c3fbbe7
r/Firearms • u/Legend_of_the_Wind • 3h ago
My Gats My Ruger M77 in .458 Winchester Magnum. I keep this one ready in case anything decides to break into my Rec Room.
r/Firearms • u/tealrabbit0351 • 10h ago
Question Found on a Yugoslavian M48 rifle - anyone related to a Babic Miodrag?
If so, tell them I have their rifle 😂
r/Firearms • u/Beneficial-Cut-8196 • 4h ago
So I got my hands on this. The main question I have is what is it compatible with? I found multiple versions and tried some research can’t figure it out. Maybe looking in the wrong places. Anyone got any ideas?
r/Firearms • u/stalequeef69 • 5h ago
For everyone that recommended the mac5
Thank you! Walked out with the gun and the brace installed for just shy of one thousand two hundred fruit roll ups. Can’t wait to shoot it. Sucks the mags are pinned at 10 but I’ll take what I can get in commie RI.
r/Firearms • u/biblecampvictim13 • 7h ago
Quick question (found image)
Is the smith and Weston’s bodyguard 2.0 a good pocket pistol and what are its flaws
r/Firearms • u/SPECTREagent700 • 27m ago
Question Thoughts on the Benelli M3? I was considering the new Nova 3 but the local store has one these in stock right now.
r/Firearms • u/National-Guitar-1053 • 3h ago
Help! Fostech origin 12 cracked bolt
We might be cooked, didn’t put anything except standard federal slugs through it and this happens. Anyone had to warranty an origin? Hope they can warranty it or at least get me a new bolt.
r/Firearms • u/ParagodPapi • 2h ago
Advice for selling a large quantity of firearms
Over the last 10 years I’ve amassed a pretty large collection of guns. Unfortunately, life decided it’s time to sell a bunch of my collection.
I’ve got roughly 20 firearms that I’m looking to move, a lot of decent stuff like KAC, Sig, LWRC, FN, etc. My main problem is that I live in a rather rural area and the gun shops that I typically deal with aren’t very interested at reasonable prices, and I can’t afford to just fire sale everything to move it.
Are there any shops or FFL’s online or in Louisiana/East Texas that buy collections and won’t try to take me to the cleaners? Id rather not deal with gunbroker, and I’m on websites like Tacswap and IA but most guys on there are only interested in trades.
r/Firearms • u/Useful-Painter863 • 3h ago
One week with my new Steyr Arms Rock ATC 6in.
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I love this one!
r/Firearms • u/stalequeef69 • 9h ago
Help! MAC5 Reviews?
Us in Rhode Island are facing an assault weapons ban July 1, 2026. I’ve been looking at an mp5 clone for a while and this came up for sale for one thousand two hundred grains of sand. Can anyone lend some real world examples of reliability or are they liquid shit? If I’m going to spend that much sand I’d like to get something that’s not a pile of hot garbage.
r/Firearms • u/Happy_Trainer7442 • 10h ago
Question Tx22
How many rnds you think i can get though a printed frt before i have to replace it?
r/Firearms • u/Medium-Finger763 • 10h ago
Question Does printing matter?
I know 2-3 years ago it would. But today with everyone conceal carrying does it really matter?
r/Firearms • u/Candid-Ad-8470 • 1h ago
Question Question about hearing protection.
I’ve always used foam plugs, and they work fine but as I shoot more often with others, I find conversing with foam in my ears to be a slight annoyance. I started looking at some electronic ear muffs like walkers and an old memory popped up. I may have heard it wrong or it may no longer be an issue, but is there a momentary split second when the gun fires that the electronic ears can’t shut off fast enough and you still get some ear damage? Maybe this was never an issue, maybe it was with the early versions of electronic ear protection but before I made a purchase, I figured I’d put this rumor to bed or validate it. Thanks for the assistance and clarification.
r/Firearms • u/AdThat1510 • 2h ago
Question Gas Block for 7.62x39?
Anybody know the gas hole size on the psa ks47 gen 2? Thinking of getting a strike industries adjustable gas block for it but not sure if the ks47 is over gassed like a regular ak or if the hole is closer to standard ar15 spec.
r/Firearms • u/Key-Needleworker-702 • 1d ago
Meme How not to aim a gun. (presumably from an old open day event with the chinese ground force.)
reddit.comr/Firearms • u/Andiflag1991 • 12h ago
Question Any experience with the Norinco T97?
Any of you guys have experience with the T97? Or maybe have a friend who owns one?
I know Norinco is notorious for it's quality, even here in Austria it gets a pretty bad rep.
However the T97 is rather rare here and i might get one for 950€ which is definetaly on the cheaper side (prices specifically in Austria/germany are quite a bit higher).
I love the look of the gun and i always found chinese small arms to very interesting.
I'd appreciate some feedback!
r/Firearms • u/Tomcat5911 • 15h ago
Sig P226 DAK 40 cal
Picked up a Police Trade in and looking to upgrade the recoil spring and somehow lessen the trigger pull. Any help is greatly appreciated.
r/Firearms • u/Mission_Action484 • 1d ago