On July 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice released a proposed rule that could dramatically reshape gun rights for millions of Americans. In a press release from the DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, under direction from President Donald J. Trump, announced that individuals previously barred from owning firearms could now petition to have those rights restored. The new rule applies to people prohibited under 18 U.S.C. 922(g), which includes a wide range of nonviolent felony convictions.
A New Use of Federal Authority
According to the DOJ, federal law already allows the Attorney General to restore firearm rights to individuals who are not “likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety.” Until now, that authority has been largely dormant due to decades of budgetary blocks preventing the ATF from processing such requests. But Bondi has shifted the responsibility from the ATF to the Department of Justice itself, bypassing that congressional restriction. This administrative path opens the door for tens of thousands, possibly millions, to regain their Second Amendment rights.
Attorney General Bondi: ‘No Longer’ Will Innocent Be Denied
Bondi emphasized the constitutional weight behind this move. “For too long, countless Americans with criminal histories have been permanently disenfranchised from exercising the right to keep and bear arms,” she stated. Comparing the right to bear arms with voting and free speech, she insisted the time had come to correct a long-standing injustice. Violent felons and sex offenders will remain ineligible, she clarified, but nonviolent offenders will now have a pathway to redemption.
Four Boxes Diner Explains the Legal Background
Attorney Mark W. Smith of the Four Boxes Diner YouTube channel hailed the announcement as a massive victory for gun rights. In a recent video, Smith walked viewers through the legal foundation for the rule, noting the administration’s use of 18 U.S.C. 925(c), which provides the Attorney General with the authority to restore gun rights. He pointed out that this rule sidesteps the years-long court battles by giving people a direct administrative process instead.
The Brian Range Case and Its Ripple Effect
Smith linked this development to the Brian Range v. Garland case out of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. In that decision, the court found that Range, a man disarmed for life over a decades-old, nonviolent food stamp violation, could not constitutionally be barred from firearm ownership. Smith emphasized that the ruling clarified that only those found to be a real, violent danger to others could be permanently disarmed under the Second Amendment.
Supreme Court’s Raheem Decision Reinforced the Shift
The DOJ’s action is also grounded in the 2024 Raheem decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, according to Smith. That case reaffirmed that disarmament must be temporary and based on clear proof of dangerousness. Smith argued that Raheem and Range together created the legal pressure that led the Trump administration to act, opting to avoid prolonged litigation by using executive authority instead.
Millions May Qualify – But There Are Limits
The DOJ’s proposed rule stresses that applications will be reviewed case-by-case. A dedicated landing page is being developed by U.S. Pardon Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., which will guide applicants through the process. However, the rules clearly state that violent criminals, sex offenders, and illegal immigrants will remain ineligible for restoration “absent extraordinary circumstances.” The focus is squarely on restoring rights to those who are not a danger to themselves or others.
A Shift in Policy, Not Just Politics
For decades, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers blocked the funding necessary for rights restoration. As Smith noted, Congress barred the ATF from using federal funds to process these applications since 1992. But because that restriction doesn’t apply to the broader DOJ, Bondi’s move sidesteps the roadblock. It’s a smart workaround – and a bold use of executive discretion to push back against what many consider to be overreach in federal gun control.
Gun Rights as a Civil Rights Issue
Mark Smith didn’t mince words when comparing firearm ownership to other civil rights. “You don’t lose your right to vote, to practice religion, or to start a media company just because you committed a nonviolent felony,” he said. Smith called it “absurd” that someone like Martha Stewart, convicted for lying to the FBI, should be banned from owning a firearm for life. The DOJ seems to agree. Their new rule acknowledges the imbalance and aims to correct it.
Restoration Platform in Development
U.S. Pardon Attorney Edward Martin confirmed that the DOJ is designing a user-friendly online system for petitions. “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,” he said. That tool is expected to streamline what could become one of the most significant administrative restorations of civil rights in modern U.S. history.
A Game-Changer for Second Amendment Rights
What makes this especially fascinating is the scale. This isn’t just about one or two sympathetic cases – it could affect millions. People with old tax issues, fraud convictions, or minor offenses that never involved a weapon or threat could get their rights back. That’s a massive shift from decades of blanket disarmament. It’s a move that not only respects constitutional rights but also embraces fairness and proportional justice.
The Political Implications Are Huge
The DOJ’s decision under President Trump’s direction is a direct rebuke to how gun control has operated for decades. It reframes the debate away from punishment and toward rehabilitation. The move will likely rally Trump’s base, energize Second Amendment advocates, and place pressure on future administrations to either uphold or undo the policy. Either way, it puts gun rights restoration on center stage in a major election year.
A New Era of Firearm Rights?
This new DOJ rule could usher in a sweeping change in how the federal government treats nonviolent felons under gun laws. Backed by recent court rulings and championed by AG Pam Bondi and the Trump administration, the proposal has the potential to restore rights to millions. The Justice Department is taking public comments now, but one thing is clear: the Second Amendment conversation just changed in a very big way.
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The article Trump Administration Moves to Restore Gun Rights to Millions first appeared on Survival World.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.
