Actor Mel Gibson has had his firearms rights restored, along with nine others, including a former NFL player, who sought pardons for their past crimes.
The issue sparked controversy at the Justice Department when Pardon Attorney Liz Oyer refused to include Gibson in a program that had narrowed down a list of 95 non-violent offenders to nine who passed strict FBI background checks.
Oyer testified to Congress that she declined to recommend restoring firearm rights for a well-known individual with a domestic violence conviction, raising concerns about public safety. This individual turned out to be Gibson, who was barred from buying guns due to a 2011 misdemeanor conviction.
In January, Gibson was appointed a "special ambassador" to Hollywood by President Trump, alongside Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone.
Oyer was dismissed in March without a clear reason and has appealed the decision. She revealed that the Trump administration directed her office to consider restoring gun rights to individuals with criminal convictions, resulting in the list of nine, which later included Gibson.
The list of names, published in the Federal Register, includes former NFL player Joseph Klecko, among others with decades-old non-violent offenses.
Gun safety advocates and Second Amendment supporters have expressed contrasting views on the restoration of gun rights to these individuals, fueling further debate on the decision.