United States Fourth Circuit

North Carolina law permanently banning the possession of handguns by ex-felons is regulatory rather than punitive in nature, hence its retroactive application to defendant does not violate the Ex Post Facto Clause. As a result, his drug conviction was properly counted as a predicate conviction under the federal firearms statute.

Appellate Information

• Decided 04/15/2004
• Published 04/15/2004

Judges

• Before WILLIAMS, KING, and DUNCAN, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:Terry F. Rose, Smithfield, North Carolina, for Appellant.   Paul Alexander Weinman, Assistant United States Attorney, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for Appellee. ON BRIEF:  Thomas N. Cochran, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Greensboro, North Carolina, for Appellant.  Anna Mills Wagoner, United States Attorney, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for Appellee.