MASSIVE Gun Rights Shake-Up Stuns America

Trump’s Justice Department has proposed a groundbreaking rule to restore Second Amendment rights for millions of Americans stripped of gun ownership for decades over minor felony convictions, marking the first federal action on rights restoration since Congress blocked the process in 1992.

Story Highlights

DOJ proposes first federal gun rights restoration process in over 30 years
Millions with old or nonviolent felony convictions could regain Second Amendment rights
New system transfers authority from ATF to DOJ’s Office of the Pardon Attorney
Public comment period runs through October 2025 before final implementation

Historic Shift Away from Lifetime Gun Bans

The Department of Justice published its proposed rule on July 18, 2025, reviving a constitutional pathway that Congress defunded in 1992. For over three decades, Americans with any felony conviction—regardless of severity or age—faced permanent firearm prohibition. The new process recognizes that a bad check written 17 years ago should not forever strip away fundamental constitutional rights from law-abiding citizens who have rebuilt their lives.

Under the proposed system, the DOJ’s Office of the Pardon Attorney will evaluate individual cases rather than maintaining blanket bans. This represents a fundamental shift from the one-size-fits-all approach that has denied millions of Americans their Second Amendment protections. The administration allocated new funding in the FY 2026 budget specifically to handle the expected surge in restoration applications.

Constitutional Victory Following Bruen Decision

The Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision expanded Second Amendment protections and increased scrutiny of sweeping firearm restrictions. Legal scholars, including those writing in the Stanford Law Review, argued that restoring individual review processes was necessary to prevent constitutional invalidation of existing gun laws. The DOJ’s proposal directly responds to these constitutional pressures while maintaining appropriate safeguards.

This initiative aligns with core conservative principles of individual liberty and constitutional rights. Rather than allowing activist courts to potentially overturn all firearm restrictions, the Trump administration is implementing a measured approach that protects both Second Amendment rights and public safety. The process ensures dangerous criminals remain prohibited while giving rehabilitated citizens a pathway to restoration.

Rigorous Process Protects Public Safety

The proposed rule establishes strict criteria to ensure only eligible individuals regain their rights. The DOJ emphasized its commitment to “keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminals and illegal aliens” while providing legitimate pathways for citizens whose circumstances have changed. Each application will undergo thorough individual review by experienced attorneys specializing in federal law.

Gun rights advocates have long criticized the arbitrary nature of lifetime bans that treat all felonies equally. A grandmother who wrote a bad check decades ago faced the same permanent prohibition as violent criminals. This common-sense reform recognizes that justice requires individualized consideration, not bureaucratic blanket policies that ignore rehabilitation and changed circumstances.

Implementation Timeline and Public Input

The 90-day public comment period runs through October 20, 2025, allowing citizens and stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed procedures. Final rules and application processes will be established after the comment period concludes. Legal professionals expect significant demand from individuals who have waited decades for this opportunity to restore their constitutional rights.

This historic initiative demonstrates the Trump administration’s commitment to constitutional rights and criminal justice reform. By reviving this dormant process, the DOJ addresses a decades-long injustice while maintaining appropriate safeguards. Millions of Americans who thought their Second Amendment rights were permanently lost now have hope for restoration through this carefully structured federal process.