Domestic abusers could have easier path to getting gun rights back under Trump proposal

June 9, 2025

Who is affected

What action is being taken

The Trump administration is proposing a rule change to transfer gun rights restoration authority from ATF to the Office of the Attorney General
Democratic lawmakers are sending a letter criticizing the proposed rule change
Gun violence prevention groups like GIFFORDS are endorsing opposition to the rule change
The Department of Justice is accepting public comments on the interim final rule until June 18

Why it matters

Approximately half of all murdered women are killed by current or former domestic partners
Guns are the most common weapons in domestic violence homicides
The presence of a gun increases the risk of death in domestic violence situations by 500 percent
Nearly two-thirds of mass shooters have histories of domestic violence
The federal background check system has blocked over half a million domestic abusers from buying firearms
Approximately 4.5 million women have been threatened by an intimate partner with a firearm
This rule change comes amid other changes weakening domestic violence services and prevention work

What's next

The public comment period for the interim final rule closes June 18
Federal agencies will review the comments and decide whether the rule will be published, revised or withdrawn

Read full article from source: The 19th