RELIEF FROM 2A DISABILITY PATHWAY INTRODUCED

Disqualified persons may have a path to rights restoration under a proposed rule. The Attorney General will be tasked with processing relief applications via the reinvention of a dormant program.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

The Department of Justice announced on July 18, 2025 that a proposed rule was submitted to the Office of the Federal Register concerning the relief from firearm disabilities. Congress defunded the program in 1992. This program was handled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives prior to being dismantled. The power of reinstating eligible people’s rights would fall under the Attorney General of the United States under the new rule.

People who are federally disqualified from firearm possession and purchase have had no path forward to regain their rights. This includes non-violent felons and white collar criminals. People like Bryan Range who fell into disqualified status for lying on a food stamp application have been barred from exercising their Second Amendment right. Those seeking to have their rights returned to them will have a process to follow should the new rule be adopted — as they should.

“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—irrespective of whether they actually pose a threat,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “No longer.”

DEFUNDING THE PROGRAM

Violence Policy Center published a so-called “study” in 1991 and the defunding of the program was the result of their work. The group alleged in the study that “a random sample of 30 cases of the thousands” who received relief, some of them had convictions for “drug dealing, sex crimes, and terrorism.”

“ATF estimates that for those granted relief from 1985 to 1989, 47 went on to again

commit crimes,” the study purported. “The recidivism rate–overall–for this five year period was 2.6 percent.”

VPC took their findings to Congress and used them to have the relief from firearm disabilities program defunded. Without funding, the ATF would not be able to process the applications for relief. VPC contended that the 2.6 percent recidivism rate of those people who received relief was too great a number — and a misguided Congress adopted their reasoning.

MODERN RECIDIVISM RATES

The fact that the entire relief from firearm disability program was frozen for decades because of the 2.6 percent recidivism rate is ludicrous. Looking at modern-day recidivism rates will show how successful the program was rather than dangerous.

A 2021 study noted that the recidivism rate — within three years of release — across 24 states in 2008 was at 66 percent. That rate extended to 82 percent after a decade. In just under half the U.S. states from 2008-2018 the recidivist rate surpassed more than three-quarters of those released.

The 2.6 percent rate cited in VPC’s study is a success story — not a failure. There’s a large chasm between 66 percent and 2.6 percent, nevermind 82 and 2.6 percent. That rate shows that 97.4 percent of the people who cared about their Second Amendment right being returned stayed out of trouble.

THE NEW RULE

Applicants will be able to petition the Attorney General for relief under the new rule. Each individual applicant will have their applications considered “on a case-by-case basis in light of all available facts and evidence.” The Attorney General would have the discretion to grant or deny those applications. Those listed as being “presumptively ineligible for relief,” without extraordinary circumstances, include:

• Violent felons
• Registered sex offenders
• Illegal aliens

“General Bondi’s support of the rebooted 925(c) program is consistent with President Donald J. Trump’s promise to the American people to support the beautiful Second Amendment,” said U.S. Pardon Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. “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, which will make the process easier for them.”

PROGRESS FOR THOSE WHO ACHIEVE REFORM

It’s been a long time coming for those who have paid their debt to society to be able to be revested with their Second Amendment right. Society does not want or need violent and dangerous persons to be armed, however the point of our penal system is to provide rehabilitation in addition to punishment. Denying such pathways for rights restoration can be viewed as an admission that the system is completely broken.

People make mistakes and after they’ve paid their debts to society should have the ability to return to society as a whole person. The program being dormant for over 30 years is an injustice to people who have achieved reform.

This reopening the pathway to rights restoration shows the Trump administration’s commitment to the Second Amendment.

THE RULE AND YOUR COMMENTS

The Department of Justice said that a copy of the proposed rule can be found HERE. The entry with the Federal Register for this rule can be found HERE, and the public is invited to comment on the policy change.