Story perspectives

DOJ Says Sex Offenders, Undocumented Immigrants Still Barred Guns

8/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that sex offenders, violent criminals and undocumented immigrants remain barred from firearms.
Federal law forbids anyone with a crime punishable by one year, undocumented immigrants and domestic-violence misdemeanants from owning a gun.
About 30 million Americans cannot own firearms because of criminal convictions.
Liz Oyer (DOJ) was fired after refusing to restore Mel Gibson’s gun rights, which were lost after his 2011 domestic-violence conviction.

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Story summary

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that sex offenders, violent criminals and undocumented immigrants remain barred from firearms.
Federal law forbids anyone with a crime punishable by one year, undocumented immigrants and domestic-violence misdemeanants from owning a gun.
About 30 million Americans cannot own firearms because of criminal convictions.
Liz Oyer (DOJ) was fired after refusing to restore Mel Gibson’s gun rights, which were lost after his 2011 domestic-violence conviction.