My friend just received an article 23 (relief of civil disabilities) in NY . Can he legally possess a firearm?

"""3. A certificate of relief from disabilities shall not, however, in any way prevent any judicial, administrative, licensing or other body, board or authority from relying upon the conviction specified therein as the basis for the exercise of its discretionary power to suspend, revoke, refuse to issue or refuse to renew any license, permit or other authority or privilege.""

This means that if anyone still wants to use your felony conviction as a reason to deny you the right to keep and bear arms, they can. So you may as well forget getting a concealed weapon permit. As far as having a gun otherwise, You would still be banned under federal law and would have to petition for relief under federal law.

So right now, no guns for your friend.

http://dpca.state.ny.us/pdfs/certificatesofrelieff...

Your friend needs to take closer look at the law/guidelines.

It may depend in this case!