DOJ Allows Federal Gun Rights Restoration for First Time Since 1992

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2025

Washington, D.C. – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued an Interim Final Rule removing the Attorney General’s delegation of authority to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to process applications for relief from federal firearms disabilities under 18 U.S.C. 925(c). This action follows more than three decades of Congressional funding restrictions that have rendered ATF unable to process individual applications.

The rule removes outdated regulations and is part of a broader review of firearm-related policies under Executive Order 14206 (Protecting Second Amendment Rights). Upon the interim final rule’s expected publication tomorrow, the DOJ will begin allowing individuals who are not “dangerous to public safety” to use the statute and petition to have their gun rights restored.
 
Key Points of the Rule Change:
 
Since 1992, Congress has prohibited ATF from using funds to process gun rights restoration applications, making the statute obsolete.
ATF will no longer handle individual firearm disability relief applications under 18 U.S.C. 925(c). DOJ will instead carry out the statute and process petitions for gun rights restoration. The DOJ rule goes into effect immediately upon publication and will simultaneously accept public comments on the rule before issuing a final version. Gun Owners of America remains committed to monitoring this process and ensuring that any future policies respect the constitutional rights of all law-abiding citizens.
 

Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement:
 
“For decades, law-abiding Americans who have had their gun rights unfairly restricted have been left in legal limbo—creating an unconstitutional de facto lifetime gun ban. This bureaucratic failure has denied thousands of individuals their lawful opportunity to restore their rights. The DOJ’s decision to finally withdraw ATF’s authority in this matter is an encouraging sign that this administration is serious about protecting the Second Amendment for all Americans.”
 
Aidan Johnston, Director of Federal Affairs for Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement:
 
"Since its enactment in 1992, Gun Owners of America (GunOwners.org) has fought against the 'Schumer Amendment' which defunded the federal gun rights restoration statute. GOA and thousands of would-be gun owners are grateful to President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi for once again allowing gun owners to petition to have their gun rights restored by the Department of Justice. We hope to see many more infringements repealed as the federal government carries out President Trump's executive order Protecting Second Amendment Rights.”

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