The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) has submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in support of a proposed rights restoration rule.

SAF’s letter supports the proposed rule as a significant step toward restoring the Second Amendment rights of millions of Americans who have been unfairly denied their constitutional protections due to nonviolent convictions. However, SAF urges the DOJ to refine the rule to ensure that individuals convicted of other non-dangerous offenses are also eligible for rights restoration on a case-by-case basis.

“The proposed rule is a commendable effort to provide a pathway for law-abiding citizens to regain their Second Amendment rights, but it should go even further to align with Supreme Court precedents like Heller, Bruen, and Rahimi,” said SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. “The right to keep and bear arms cannot be stripped based on nonviolent or non-dangerous conduct. We urge the DOJ to revise the rule to ensure fairness and reduce unnecessary litigation.”

The comment letter highlights concerns about the blanket ineligibility for individuals convicted under specific subsections of the current law, such as marijuana users who pose no danger when not under the influence, individuals who have recovered from past mental health adjudications, and those convicted of possessing machine guns without violent intent. SAF also recommends clarifying the language around the Attorney General’s discretion to revoke granted relief to prevent potential abuse in a future administration.

“We fully support the proposed rule as it is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that federal laws respect the constitutional rights of Americans and adhere to the historical tradition required by the Supreme Court,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “The proposed rule is long overdue, and if implemented, will allow countless individuals convicted of non-violent offenses a way to fully restore their ability to legally possess firearms.”

For more information visit SAF.org.

The Second Amendment Foundation (saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the fundamental rights of individuals enshrined in the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. SAF engages in aggressive legal action to ensure the principles of armed self-defense, personal liberty, and the ownership of arms are defended, secured, and restored. Through public education initiatives, SAF teaches the importance of the Second Amendment to promote a society that values and exercises the right to keep and bear arms.