To get a gun permit revoked, you generally start by filing a detailed report with local law enforcement, or, in states that allow it, by petitioning a court directly for an extreme risk protection order. Both paths trigger an investigation, and if a disqualifying event or credible threat is confirmed, the issuing agency schedules a hearing and can revoke the permit. What follows walks through how to raise the concern, what grounds actually support revocation, and what happens after a report is filed.
Report the Permit Holder to Law Enforcement
Your first and most effective step is contacting the local agency with jurisdiction over the permit holder. That usually means the city police department or the county sheriff’s office. File a formal report in person or through the agency’s non-emergency line, and be specific. Investigators act faster on concrete facts than on general worry.
Come prepared with:
- The permit holder’s full name, date of birth, and current address.
- A detailed description of the threatening or disqualifying behavior, including dates, times, and locations.
- Names and contact information for any witnesses.
- Copies of threatening messages, photos, videos, relevant social media posts, and any prior police report numbers.
If the concern involves illegal firearms trafficking, unlicensed dealing, or other federal firearms crimes, you can submit a tip directly to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives online, by phone, or through its mobile app. ATF accepts anonymous tips and does not require your contact information.1Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. ATF Tips
Once law enforcement identifies a disqualifying event or credible risk, they notify the permit-issuing authority, which is often the sheriff or state police. In many states the issuing agency can revoke a permit directly once a disqualifying record appears in background check databases.
Petition a Court for an Extreme Risk Protection Order
If you want to act directly rather than wait for police to build a case, an extreme risk protection order (ERPO), sometimes called a red flag order, may be available. An ERPO is a civil court order that temporarily prohibits a person from possessing firearms when a judge finds they pose a danger to themselves or others. It is not a criminal charge, and it focuses on current risk rather than past conduct.
As of early 2026, 22 states and the District of Columbia have ERPO laws. Who can petition varies:
- Law enforcement can petition in every state with an ERPO law.
- Family and household members can petition in roughly 17 of those states.
- A smaller number of states allow clinicians or social service providers to file.2U.S. Department of Justice. DOJ Launches the National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center
The petition is filed with the court in the county where the person at risk lives. It describes the dangerous behavior and includes supporting evidence. Most states charge no filing fee. The court usually holds an initial hearing within one or two days to decide whether to issue a temporary order. If a temporary order is granted, a full hearing is typically scheduled within about 14 days, and the respondent has the right to appear, present evidence, and argue against the order.3Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Identify Prohibited Persons
If you live in one of the roughly 28 states without an ERPO law, this option is not available to you, and your path runs through law enforcement.
Grounds That Actually Support Revocation
Before filing anything, it helps to know what a revocation actually requires. Most revocations trace back to federal law. Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), certain categories of people are barred from possessing firearms or ammunition, and when a permit holder falls into one of these categories, the state permit becomes invalid and the issuing agency will revoke it once notified.
The federally prohibited categories include:
- Conviction for a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, whether or not the sentence was served.
- Conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, such as assault against a family member. This is a permanent disqualifier and applies to offenses that occurred before the Lautenberg Amendment passed.
- A domestic violence restraining order, if it was issued after a hearing where the person had notice and a chance to participate, and it either includes a credible-threat finding or explicitly prohibits the use of physical force.
- Formal adjudication as mentally unfit by a court, or involuntary commitment to a mental health facility.
- Current unlawful use of, or addiction to, any controlled substance as defined by federal drug schedules. Alcohol is not covered.
- Fugitive status, dishonorable discharge from the military, renunciation of U.S. citizenship, and certain noncitizen statuses.
Possessing a firearm while falling into any of these categories is a federal felony carrying up to 15 years in prison, even if the state permit hasn’t yet been formally revoked.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 924 – Penalties
States commonly add their own grounds on top of the federal list. Patterns of alcohol-related offenses like multiple DUI convictions, certain non-felony drug offenses, and violations of state firearms regulations are frequent additions. A single DUI conviction does not trigger the federal prohibition, but a handful of states treat repeated DUIs as grounds for revoking a carry permit.
Providing false information on a state permit application is another common revocation trigger. Lying on the federal purchase form (ATF Form 4473) when buying a firearm from a licensed dealer is separately a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6), and ATF has said false statements about criminal history, drug use, or domestic violence history on that form can lead to prosecution carrying up to 10 years in federal prison.5Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Federal Prosecutors Aggressively Pursuing Those Who Lie in Connection With Firearm Transactions
What Happens After You File
Once a report is filed or a disqualifying event is flagged, the issuing authority investigates. Investigators review the evidence, check criminal history and mental health records, and may interview you, the permit holder, and any witnesses. In clear-cut cases, such as a new felony conviction appearing on a background check, the investigation is essentially a records verification. Allegations of threatening behavior take longer to work through.
The permit holder must receive formal notice before a permit can be permanently revoked. That notice spells out the grounds and provides the date and time of any scheduled hearing. Written notice by certified mail is the norm, though delivery methods vary by state.
At the hearing, the agency seeking revocation presents its evidence and witnesses. The permit holder has the right to attend, bring an attorney, challenge the evidence, and present their own case. Depending on the state, the hearing may be before a judge or an administrative panel. If revocation is upheld, the permit holder receives written notice of the decision and any deadlines for surrendering the permit and firearms.
What Revocation Actually Does
Revocation is more than paperwork. Once a permit is revoked, the former holder generally must return the physical permit to the issuing agency within a short deadline, often 10 days or less depending on the state. If the revocation stems from a federal prohibition under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), the person is also barred from possessing any firearms or ammunition, and must dispose of or transfer what they own.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 922 – Unlawful Acts
Ignoring a revocation carries real risk. Possessing a firearm while federally prohibited is a felony carrying up to 15 years in federal prison.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 924 – Penalties State-level penalties for possessing a firearm after permit revocation vary and typically stack on top of any federal exposure.
If You Are the One Facing Revocation
A permit holder who believes the revocation was unjustified can appeal. The specific process depends on the state, but most states allow the permit holder to request a hearing if one hasn’t already occurred, or to appeal an adverse decision to a higher court. The appeal typically must be filed within a set window after the revocation notice, and the burden generally falls on the permit holder to show the revocation was improper. Because these procedures are state-specific, consulting an attorney familiar with your state’s firearms laws is the right move.