[Puppage]

I thought that you could only lose your rights...permanently,at least...when convicted of a felony

That's true. However, the story uses misdemeanor and domestic violence. I am confused... is DV a felony? If so, why is misdemeanor even mentioned?

[absalom01]

You can google “Lautenberg Amendment”, or go to this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_Violence_Offender_Gun_Ban

[woollyone]

The Lautenberg Amendment was an amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. It expanded the group of firearm prohibited persons to those who have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. The effect is to make it a felony for anyone with any DV conviction to own or even handle any firearm or ammunition. It does not matter if the DV conviction occurred before the 1996 enactment of the Lautenberg Amendment.

The impact on those in the military is particularly significant. There is no exception for those in the military during the scope of their official duties.

Lautenberg also made those under a domestic restraining order into prohibited persons.