The Department of Justice is looking to authorize a decades-old law giving individuals with criminal convictions an opportunity to buy firearms. The DOJ issued an interim final rule in the Federal Register on Thursday. Pamella Seay, a legal expert at Florida Gulf Coast University, said the rule follows an executive order from President Donald Trump last month directing a review of the country’s gun restrictions.

“The Second Amendment is one of the most important ones we have. Therefore we need to have a way to reinstate a person’s civil rights which would include firearms,” Seay said.

The rule would open an appropriate avenue to restore gun rights to criminals who have proven they’re reformed, according to the DOJ.

“Yes, we want people to have their Second Amendment rights, but having a constitutional right is not limitless,” Seay said.

Limitations will likely be put in place for those with violent and dangerous backgrounds.

“Limiting it to those who are nonviolent. No domestic violence involved,” Seay said.

Madeline Summerville, an attorney at Georgia Trial Consulting, says in addition to creating a pathway for people to own guns again, this rule will also clear up some existing restrictions and regulations.

“If there were any unnecessary roadblocks on the way to someone having their rights reinstated that really didn’t make sense, they’re going to try and get rid of that as well,” Summerville said.

But before a final version of the rule is issued, the public will be able to weigh in. Groups advocating against gun violence are pushing back. “Everytown for Gun Safety” posted a statement on its website, saying in part that this move throws out decades of bipartisan precedent and is laying the groundwork to put guns back into the hands of violent criminals.

Have a news tip? Contact Geoffrey Harris at gmharris@sbgtv.com or at x.com/GeoffHarrisTV.