This was a bold move.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced a new proposal to reinstate firearm rights for certain Americans with past convictions, sparking a nationwide debate. While gun rights advocates celebrate this move as a restoration of Second Amendment freedoms, critics claim it could allow violent criminals to regain access to weapons.
What This Means for Gun Owners
This rule, recently published in the Federal Register, follows an executive order by President Trump, who has prioritized protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. The DOJ’s proposal would create a process for eligible individuals to have their firearm rights restored—something that has been largely restricted since 1992.
Currently, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) is responsible for these cases, but Congress has blocked funding for such reviews for decades. Under the new plan, the Attorney General would have the power to oversee the process and grant rights restoration where appropriate.
The DOJ emphasized that only individuals who have demonstrated rehabilitation and law-abiding behavior would be considered. They also reassured the public that they would be screening applicants carefully to ensure violent offenders do not regain access to firearms.
Gun Control Activists Push Back
Despite these safeguards, anti-gun groups have expressed strong opposition. Organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety claim this rule will allow individuals convicted of violent crimes to get guns again.
“The Trump Administration is undoing decades of bipartisan gun restrictions,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety.
Similarly, The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence argued that the move would put communities at risk, calling it a “dangerous power grab.”
Second Amendment Advocates Applaud the Decision
Gun rights groups, however, strongly support the DOJ’s plan, arguing that it corrects an unconstitutional oversight that has unfairly restricted responsible Americans.
“For years, law-abiding Americans who have paid their debt to society have been trapped in legal limbo,” said Erich Pratt, senior vice president of Gun Owners of America.
“This bureaucratic failure has denied thousands their fundamental rights, and this rule finally provides a solution.”
President Trump has long been a champion of the Second Amendment, and this move is expected to reignite the national conversation on gun rights, personal freedom, and government overreach.
What Do You Think?
Should responsible individuals have the opportunity to restore their Second Amendment rights? Or does this policy go too far?