Lifting a gun ban

Federal law should have review process

AWestmoreland County man doesn’t think his trio of DUI convictions — circa 20 years ago — should prevent him from gun ownership today. He’s right. A legal mechanism should be in place for those who have had a clean record to enjoy the constitutional right of gun ownership. That’s not the way it works today. And that’s why Michael Quidetto has filed a lawsuit.

Mr. Quidetto of New Alexandria, who is in his 50s, pleaded guilty to DUIs in 1996, 1999 and 2000. Federal law imposes a lifelong ban on gun ownership for those convicted of certain misdemeanors such as repeated DUIs.

Mr. Quidetto, who has worked as a union electrician for 30 years, said he’s had no other convictions since the 2000 DUI. He said he needs a gun to protect his home, and the decadesold convictions shouldn’t prevent him from having one.

To that end, he is suing the United States, the attorney general, the FBI director and the head of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Mr. Quidetto wants a federal judge to declare that his Second Amendment rights are being violated by the federal government.

The lawsuit seems a longshot, but there are few options available to Mr. Quidetto and others in similar circumstances. They could petition the state for a pardon, which would basically set aside the DUI convictions, but the process is a long one that legal experts say usually takes about three years from the time of application to when — or if — the governor approves it.

Instead, the federal law should be amended to allow for a review process for those who are banned from gun ownership because of repeated DUI convictions or other misdemeanors. The court should consider the defendant’s record — or lack of one — since the gun ban was imposed.

In the case of Mr. Quidetto, the long gap since his last conviction indicates some sort of reform or rehabilitation. At the very least, he deserves the opportunity to plead his case that his crimes of 20 years ago don’t reflect who he is today.

Gun ownership demands responsibility, and someone convicted of multiple DUIs certainly shows a high degree of irresponsibility. Still, there is always the possibility — and hope — of rehabilitation over time.

The law should allow for a review of a lifelong gun ban and give those affected the opportunity to restore their Second Amendment rights.