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WASHINGTON — <\/span>The Justice Department finalized a rule Monday that will pave the way for people who’ve been barred from owning firearms because of criminal convictions to apply to have their gun rights reinstated.<\/p>\n The process launched<\/a> by newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche<\/a> is a victory for Second Amendment advocates who have long pushed for nonviolent people with felony convictions to be given a pathway to regain their legal right to own firearms. <\/p>\n \u201cThe Second Amendment is not a second-class right, and the federal government should not permanently deprive Americans of a constitutional right without regard to whether they pose a danger to public safety,\u201d Blanche said in a statement. The attorney general said the new process will protect \u201cpublic safety while giving deserving Americans a real path to restoration.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s the latest move by President Donald Trump’s administration to ease firearms restrictions. The Justice Department moved earlier this year<\/a> to roll back and modify a slate of gun regulations. Separately, the department recently decided against challenging<\/a> a court ruling that struck down regulations<\/a> on firearm suppressors and certain guns. <\/p>\n Federal law has long allowed people who’ve had their gun rights stripped because of felony convictions to petition the government for the ability to own firearms again, but Congress since 1992 has effectively barred the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from processing applications.<\/p>\n The Trump administration’s rule aims to circumvent that by establishing a new application system using an online portal. <\/p>\n The Justice Department says restoration will be granted on a case-by-case basis, weighing a person’s record and reputation to determine whether they pose a likely threat to public safety. Officials say people who have been convicted of violent crimes, registered sex offenders, people living in the country illegally and others whom officials believe pose a danger to society will be denied \u201cabsent extraordinary circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n Kris Brown, the president of Brady, which advocates for stronger gun laws, said her group is still reviewing the administration\u2019s final rule but has stressed the need for a \u201crobust and thoughtful system that minimizes the risk to public safety.”<\/p>\n \u201cYet the Trump administration has consistently shown us they have no such discretion, including by restoring gun rights to convicted domestic abusers and violent January 6 insurrectionists, and by tirelessly rolling back broad policies proven to prevent crime and gun violence,\u201d Brown said in a statement. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n