Trump Administration Moves to Restore Gun Rights for Nonviolent Offenders

President Trump is once again delivering on his promise to defend the Constitution and protect the rights of law-abiding Americans. In a decisive move aimed at correcting decades of government overreach, the Trump administration is working to restore Second Amendment rights to citizens who have paid their debt to society and pose no danger to public safety.

The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, has submitted a proposed rule to the Office of the Federal Register to revive a long-dormant federal program that allows nonviolent offenders to regain their right to own firearms—a fundamental liberty enshrined in the Constitution.

For years, federal law has blocked countless Americans from exercising their God-given right to keep and bear arms simply because of past convictions—regardless of whether they pose any threat today. This rule changes that.

Attorney General Bondi: “No Longer Silenced”

“For too long, countless Americans with criminal histories have been permanently disenfranchised from exercising the right to keep and bear arms—a right every bit as constitutionally enshrined as the right to vote, the right to free speech, and the right to free exercise of religion,” said Bondi. “No longer.”

This new policy reflects what millions of Americans already know: our Second Amendment doesn’t have an expiration date, and redemption is a cornerstone of American justice. The proposed rule will give those unfairly sidelined by blanket bans the chance to prove they’re no danger and get their rights back—just as our Founders intended.

Protecting Rights Without Sacrificing Safety

The process will remain firmly under the control of the Attorney General, who will make decisions case by case, with public safety always at the forefront. Let’s be clear: violent felons, sex offenders, and illegal aliens will still be barred—as they should be. But for hard-working Americans who made a mistake years ago and turned their lives around, help is finally on the way.

U.S. Pardon Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. praised the program, saying it aligns directly with President Trump’s steadfast commitment to the Second Amendment. “My team and I are developing a 925(c) program landing page with a sophisticated, user-friendly platform for Americans petitioning for the return of their gun rights,” Martin said. “We’re making it easier for good people to reclaim their liberty.”

A Call for Public Support

The Justice Department is now welcoming feedback from law enforcement, elected officials, victims’ advocates, and citizens who support this long-overdue correction to federal overreach. For now, the Department recommends holding off on applications until the final rule is published—expected next week—to ensure a smooth and fair process.

Real Reform, Not Rhetoric

This is real reform—not the kind of virtue-signaling we’ve come to expect from the left. It’s about restoring freedoms, respecting the Constitution, and trusting Americans more than bureaucrats. Once again, President Trump is proving he's a President who puts rights before red tape and believes in the power of redemption.

The proposed rule can be reviewed on the Office of the Federal Register website.