Restoring Firearm Rights in California: A New Chapter Begins in 2025

30 Mar, 2025

Restoring Firearm Rights in California: A New Chapter Begins in 2025

For Californians stripped of their firearm rights—whether due to a felony, domestic violence conviction, or mental health prohibition—hope has been hard to come by. Federal law under 18 U.S.C. 925(c) promises a path to restore those rights, but for over 30 years, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has been barred from processing individual applications due to congressional funding restrictions. That’s changing. In March 2025, Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi shook up the status quo with an interim final rule, pulling ATF out of the equation and setting the stage for a “clean slate” approach to restoring gun rights. At [Law Firm Name], we’re here to help you navigate what’s next.

What’s Happening Now?

On March 20, 2025, the Federal Register published Bondi’s rule, withdrawing ATF’s authority to handle relief applications under 18 U.S.C. 925(c). Why? Congress has blocked ATF from using funds to process these requests since 1992, leaving the law dormant for individuals (corporations could still apply, but almost none do). Sparked by Executive Order 14206—President Trump’s February 6, 2025, directive to protect Second Amendment rights—the Department of Justice (DOJ) is rethinking how to make this law work again. As Cam Edwards noted in Bearing Arms on March 19, 2025, this move signals “a major shift” toward reviving a process that’s been “effectively dead” for decades.

What Does This Mean for You?

In California, restoring firearm rights is already a maze—state laws layer onto federal restrictions, making it tougher. The DOJ’s “clean slate” could simplify things:

  • Federal Relief: If you’re banned under 18 U.S.C. 922(g) (e.g., felon status), the feds might soon offer a new way to petition the Attorney General directly, bypassing ATF’s old, stalled system.
  • California Twist: Federal relief won’t automatically fix state-level bans, but it’s a start. You might still need to reduce a felony to a misdemeanor (Penal Code 17(b)), expunge a conviction (Penal Code 1203.4), or clear a mental health hold’s five-year bar.

The DOJ hints at future rulemaking to streamline this, but details are TBD. One thing’s clear: Bondi’s team wants to balance Second Amendment rights with public safety, screening out violent offenders while helping law-abiding folks reclaim their freedoms.

How to Restore Your Rights Today

While the feds sort out their next steps, California options remain:

  1. Case Review: We dig into your record—felony, misdemeanor, or mental health ban—to find eligibility.
  2. Legal Action: File for expungement, a Certificate of Rehabilitation, or a charge reduction.
  3. Fight for You: Courts and prosecutors resist these petitions. Our experience gets results.

With federal changes looming, acting now could position you ahead of the curve when the new process drops.

Why It Matters

This isn’t just about guns—it’s about your life. Restored rights mean hunting, sport shooting, or home defense without legal shadows. The DOJ’s move, as Edwards writes, reflects “a commitment to constitutional rights” that’s been dormant too long.

Need to Restore Your Firearm Rights? Don’t wait for the feds to figure it out. Contact [Law Firm Name] today—California’s gun law experts—for a free consultation. E-Mail us at [email protected] now. Your Second Amendment rights deserve a fighting chance!