Justice Department creates a new pathway to restore gun rights for some convicted of felonies
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department finalized a rule Monday that will pave the way for people who’ve been barred from owning firearms because of criminal convictions…
The Justice Department announced on Monday a new pathway to restore gun rights for individuals previously barred from owning firearms due to criminal convictions. Attorney General Todd Blanche unveiled the process, which aims to balance public safety with the constitutional right to bear arms. Blanche emphasized that the Second Amendment is not a second-class right and the federal government should not permanently strip Americans of this constitutional right without considering their potential danger to public safety.
This move comes as part of the administration's efforts to ease firearms restrictions. Earlier this year, the Justice Department rolled back and modified several gun regulations. Additionally, the department recently decided not to challenge a court ruling that invalidated regulations on firearm suppressors and certain types of firearms.
Previously, federal law permitted individuals whose gun rights were stripped due to felony convictions to petition the government for the ability to own firearms again. However, since 1992, Congress has effectively barred the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from processing these applications. The Trump administration's rule seeks to bypass this obstacle by establishing a new application system through an online portal.
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