30 Million May Restore Gun Rights Under New DOJ Rule

The U.S. Department of Justice has finalized a new rule creating a formal process for individuals prohibited from possessing firearms to seek the restoration of their federal gun rights, a move that could affect millions of Americans. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the regulation on Monday, August 17, 2026, stating it establishes a rigorous pathway for relief while protecting public safety.

The rule addresses a decades-long impasse. Since 1992, a congressional funding ban has prevented the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from processing applications for the restoration of firearm rights, even though federal law authorized the attorney general to grant such relief. The new regulation creates an alternative administrative process, including an online portal, to bypass that restriction.

"The Second Amendment is not a second-class right, and the federal government should not permanently deprive Americans of a constitutional right without regard to whether they pose a danger to public safety," Blanche said in a statement. He added that the rule provides a "real path to restoration" for deserving individuals.

U.S. Pardon Attorney Edward Martin indicated the...