The laws discussed in today's column apply not only to felons but also to people who've committed lesser crimes. "The federal law applies to convictions for any offense punishable by more than one year in jail. Under Maryland law many crimes are misdemeanors but carry lengthy potential sentences, such as assault, punishable by 10 years, which is a misdemeanor, or theft of property valued at less than $500 but more than $100, which carries a maximum of 18 months. So it's not just felons who need to be warned, it's almost anybody convicted of anything.

Under Maryland law you are prohibited from ever, ever possessing a "regulated firearm" if you've been convicted of a misdemeanor for which the penalty could have been two or more years, regardless of the sentence actually received for the earlier crime.