Mel Gibson's gun rights restored by US Justice Department following domestic violence conviction
Mel Gibson has had his rights to own firearms reinstated by the U.S. Department of Justice more than a decade after his 2011 domestic violence conviction.
According to The New York Times, the approval was granted by Attorney General Pam Bondi, alongside similar restorations for nine other individuals.
Gibson, a Nevada resident, had previously lost the right to own firearms following his no contest plea to a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery against his former girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva.
He was sentenced at the time to 36 months of probation, community service, and counselling.
Although Nevada prohibits gun ownership for convicted felons, Gibson’s conviction was for a misdemeanor, making him eligible for rights restoration under federal guidelines.
The decision to restore Gibson’s rights reportedly stirred significant controversy within the Justice Department.
Elizabeth G. Oyer, the department’s former pardon attorney, raised strong objections before she was later dismissed by the Trump administration in March.
She voiced serious concerns over arming individuals with a history of domestic violence.
“Giving guns back to domestic abusers is a serious matter that, in my view, is not something that I could recommend lightly, because there are real consequences that flow from people who have a history of domestic violence being in possession of firearms,” Oyer said at the time.
Senior officials have denied that her firing was linked to the Gibson case.
Gibson, who was named a “special ambassador” to Hollywood by former President Donald Trump earlier this year—alongside actors Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone—will now be allowed to own firearms again, subject to individual state laws.
The DOJ recently introduced new regulations allowing some individuals with criminal records to regain their gun rights if they are deemed to have “earned the chance” to do so.
The Standard have contacted Mel Gibson’s rep for comment.