DOJ Moves to Reopen Gun Rights Access for Some Ex-Offenders

**DOJ Rule Could Let Some Nonviolent Offenders Regain Gun Rights**

President Trump’s DOJ has proposed a new rule that may allow certain nonviolent former offenders to have their Second Amendment rights restored. The move seeks to balance individual rights with public safety.

Key Facts:

President Trump directed the DOJ to address restrictions on Second Amendment rights for nonviolent offenders.
The DOJ proposed a rule enabling the Attorney General to restore gun rights under 18 U.S.C. 925(c).
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized protecting rights for those who no longer pose a threat.
Violent felons, sex offenders, and illegal aliens will remain presumptively ineligible for relief.
The DOJ is accepting public comment before finalizing the rule.

The Rest of The Story:

The Department of Justice has submitted a proposed rule to the Federal Register that could pave the way for certain individuals to regain their firearms rights.

These are people who were previously barred from gun ownership due to criminal convictions that may not involve violence or threat to public safety.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “For too long, countless Americans with criminal histories have been permanently disenfranchised from exercising the right to keep and bear arms… irrespective of whether they actually pose a threat.”

The proposed rule allows the Attorney General to make decisions case-by-case, with a focus on facts and personal reform.

Those convicted of violent crimes, sex offenses, or residing in the U.S. illegally will remain largely ineligible for relief.

The DOJ is encouraging public input on the rule before accepting individual applications.

Commentary:

The Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms to all citizens, yet that right has been increasingly narrowed over the years.

While protecting the public from violent criminals is a valid and necessary goal, blanket bans on all ex-offenders often go too far.

This proposed DOJ rule begins to restore balance. It recognizes that not every crime implies future danger.

A person convicted of writing bad checks or failing to pay taxes is not the same as someone who commits armed robbery or assault.

Yet many of these nonviolent individuals have been denied gun rights for decades. People who have paid their debt to society and lived responsibly since their conviction deserve a second chance.

America is a nation of laws—but it is also a nation of redemption. If someone has reformed, stayed out of trouble, and proven to be a responsible citizen, they should be allowed to exercise their constitutional rights again.

The key here is discretion. This isn’t a blanket amnesty. It puts the decision in the hands of the Attorney General, who will review each case individually.

This ensures violent offenders and those still posing a danger are kept out of the system. It’s also a step toward fixing a long-standing inconsistency.

Many states already allow certain reformed offenders to vote, drive, and even run businesses. Yet they’re still banned from owning a firearm—even if their past crime had nothing to do with violence.

That doesn’t make sense. Rebuilding trust in the justice system requires fairness.

When the rules allow room for mercy and common sense, the system becomes more just.

This rule gives many Americans hope that their rights can one day be restored.

The Bottom Line:

The Trump administration’s DOJ is proposing a rule that could restore gun rights to nonviolent ex-offenders on a case-by-case basis.

This move aims to support reformed individuals while keeping weapons out of the hands of those who remain a threat.

If finalized, it may help thousands of Americans reclaim a constitutional right they lost long ago.

DOJ Moves to Reopen Gun Rights Access for Some Ex-Offenders

Key Facts:

The Rest of The Story:

Commentary:

The Bottom Line:

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