Mel Gibson’s Gun Rights To Be Restored After Trump Administration Intervenes On His Behalf

Alessio AtriaApril 4, 2025, 5:19 pmNews >

Actor Mel Gibson’s gun rights will be restored following a ruling by the U.S. Justice Department.

Gibson had his gun rights revoked in 2011 when he was charged with a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction, which involved an altercation with his then-girlfriend and their child in 2010.

The Trump Administration intervened to help Gibson, a close friend of the president. On March 7, former U.S. pardon attorney Elizabeth G. Oyer was terminated for refusing to recommend the request.

Federal law bans all those with felony convictions and most individuals with domestic violence charges from possessing firearms.

The Lethal Weapon star pleaded no contest in a deal with prosecutors that kept him out of prison.

As part of the 2011 plea deal, he spent three years on probation, underwent one year of domestic violence counseling and performed 16 hours of community service.

Days before his inauguration on Jan. 20, Donald Trump named Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone “Special Ambassadors to Hollywood.”

Right after the announcement, Gibson’s lawyer asked the Justice Department to alter the decision that revoked his gun rights.

According to a report from The New York Times, citing an anonymous source familiar with the Justice Department, Attorney General Pam Bondi approved the decision to restore Gibson’s gun rights.

The source also told the outlet that the details will soon be officially published in the Federal Register.

They noted that Gibson is one of the nine people whose firearm rights would be restored.

The actor cannot own a gun anywhere in the United States since different states have different restrictions despite the federal decision.