For more than 30 years, a reckless government policy has robbed law-abiding Americans of their Second Amendment rights, often without due process or any chance to appeal.

In 1992, the so-called “Schumer Amendment” gave the ATF sweeping authority to permanently ban gun ownership for people with certain non-violent offenses or temporary mental health commitments.

Now, for the first time in 32 years, the DOJ is proposing a rule that could finally begin to restore those rights.

The deadline to submit your public comment is Monday, October 20 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Please consider copying and pasting the letter below to submit your comment to the DOJ:

As a member of Gun Owners of America and a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, I write in support of the DOJ’s proposal to create a process for restoring firearm rights under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c).

This rule is an important step toward protecting the constitutional rights of Americans who have demonstrated that they can responsibly exercise their right to keep and bear arms. However, I urge the DOJ to make several improvements before finalizing it:

• • Add application tracking. Create an online portal so applicants can check their submission status and receive updates on review progress.
  • Establish a decision timeline. Set a reasonable deadline for DOJ to issue decisions to prevent unnecessary delays.
  • Reconsider presumptive denials. Nonviolent firearm-related offenses, such as simple possession or administrative violations, should not automatically disqualify applicants from relief. No one should ever lose their Second Amendment rights for peacefully possessing a firearm in a gun-free zone!
  • Shorten the five-year waiting period. The rule should focus on whether someone poses a danger, not on arbitrary timelines, especially for those convicted under unconstitutional gun bans at the state level.

Restoring the rights of nonviolent, law-abiding Americans strengthens the core purpose of the Second Amendment: securing liberty and self-defense. I urge DOJ to adopt these changes to ensure the process is fair, transparent, and efficient.

Thank you for considering my comments.

Gun Owners of America submitted its comments on Friday. Thank you for joining us in ratcheting up the pressure to get the above, important changes added to the DOJ’s proposal.