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I got tossed in jail, bailed out, went to court not with lawyer or jury, just me, pleaded guilty because I slapped and kicked the cop (note to self: don't ever do that again! ;^), but the cop fabricated evidence that I'd torn his uniform and the judge seemed to know and disapprove of the over-zealous cop; they fined me and slapped my wrist, and told me that I was on a kind of probation where if I got in trouble with the law over the next three years I'd be in deep doo-doo. I doubt that that qualifies as a felony conviction

That was, indeed, a felony conviction. If you were charged with a felony and plead guilty to it, you are a convicted felon. An additional clue is the fact that the court said they had 'rights' over you for more than one year ("if I got in trouble with the law over the next three years I'd be in deep doo-doo"). Misdemeanor convictions only give you jeopardy for less than one year.

Don't own a gun; it's an additional felony (Felon in Possession of a Firearm). Also, if you are voting, in certain states that is disallowed or is another crime. Check your laws.

Work to get the felony pardoned by your governor. It was 26 years ago and governors will often give you relief from such ancient crimes, so long as you stayed on the straight and narrow.