Ask the Community

Yes, but not at Buds. You will need to go to your local gun shop and pay for a background check. And if you've had no felony arrests, you should be okay as long as mental health and drugs aren't a burden for you. Your local shop can confirm everything for you.

Would go to my local gun shop and pick out a firearm, fill out the paperwork and see what happens

A call to your shop may be enough. If you were able to buy a .357 after your arrest, it couldn't have been a felony. Even in 1974 a felony arrest would bar you from getting a gun legally. So if you could buy then and haven't been in trouble since, I see no reason you couldn't now. The check only wants to know if you're a felon, a citizen, a drug abuser, mental health impaired, a fugitive, under indictment, or the intended recipient of the firearm. If you are good on all these, you're good to own a gun. It just depends if it was a felony? Do you own land or a home? Can you vote? Felons cannot vote or own a home. If you can do these, you're not a felon.