I had always thought that any offense carrying a potential sentence of more than one year you were convicted of automatically disabled you federally from owning a gun.

It reads:

"Federal law establishes the baseline regarding the types of persons who are ineligible to purchase firearms. The federal Gun Control Act of 1968, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 922, generally prohibits the sale or posesession of firearms to any person who:



   Has been convicted of, or is under indictment for, a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year"





Then i was reading this for a client who was also confused.



The term "crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year” does not include—


(A) any federal or state offenses pertaining to antitrust violations,
unfair trade practices, restraints of trade, or other similar offenses
relating to the regulation of business practices, or


(B) any State offense classified by the laws of the state as a
misdemeanor and punishable by a term of imprisonment of two years or
less. 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20). The term also does not apply to certain
situations where the person has had his or her eligibility restored. See id. [?]

Want me to confuse you even more?

Not all federal crimes are felonies (see Wesley Snipes).

I thought charges with sentencing guidelines exceeding 1 year in prison is what defined a felony offense?

It was/is what defines a disabling of firearm rights, not the felony, felony is used so much because they for the most part are all over that one year sentence at a bare min.
 

It can be a misdemeanor exceeding one year in jail that can disable your gun rights.

(but not if the state law says)

"State offense classified by the laws of the state as a misdemeanor and punishable by a term of imprisonment of two years or less.



 

According to the federal statute it is based partly on what that state law says.





The term "crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year” does not include—

(A)
any federal or state offenses pertaining to antitrust violations,
unfair trade practices, restraints of trade, or other similar offenses
relating to the regulation of business practices, or

(B) any State offense classified by the laws of the state as a misdemeanor and punishable by a term of imprisonment of two years or less.
18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20). The term also does not apply to certain
situations where the person has had his or her eligibility restored.



 

IIRC, federal misdemeanors only come with one year sentences.

You can be sentenced consecutively though, as Snipes was.