U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to reportedly restore actor Mel Gibson’s gun rights will following a controversial decision.
The move, approved along with similar rights restorations for nine other individuals, comes despite Gibson’s past domestic violence conviction and has already sparked ethical concerns within the Justice Department.
According to The New York Times, the decision to reinstate Gibson’s Second Amendment rights will soon be made public via the Federal Register.
Gibson, a high-profile conservative and vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, lost his gun ownership rights in 2011 after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. The conviction stemmed from a 2010 altercation involving his then-girlfriend and their child.
Gibson’s legal team reportedly petitioned the Justice Department to reverse the gun rights revocation shortly after the latest announcement.
While Pam Bondi approved the request, the ruling does not guarantee that Mel Gibson will be able to legally own a gun in every U.S. state. State-level laws still vary widely, and many have their own restrictions that apply regardless of federal rulings.
The decision comes amid internal conflict within the DOJ, especially surrounding the ethical implications of restoring firearm access to someone with a documented history