When did Mel Gibson lose his gun rights? Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly grants new development

Mel Gibson's gun rights have been restored by Trump's Justice Department, despite a prior domestic violence conviction.

The Mad Max actor will now be allowed to own a gun after his rights were revoked back in 2011. At the time, he was charged with misdemeanor spousal battery, though he pleaded no contest, allowing him to stay out of jail. However, he was ordered to spend three years on probation, undergo a year of domestic violence counseling, and deliver 16 hours of community service.

Federal law in the US states that all individuals with felony convictions are prohibited from owning firearms. The New York Times reported on Thursday, April 3, that Attorney General Pam Bondi has sanctioned the restoration of Gibson's gun rights. More details are reportedly expected to be listed in the Federal Register.

Everything we know about Mel Gibson's gun rights being reinstated as former U.S. pardon attorney gets fired for opposing the idea:

Mel Gibson, a vocal advocate of President Trump, was among ten individuals whose rights to a gun were restored. According to NBC News, former U.S. pardon attorney Elizabeth G. Oyer was fired on Friday after she opposed this decision.

A spokesperson for the attorney said that she was not informed of exactly why she was terminated, but that it may have stemmed from a "sequence of events she believes [was due to] her refusal to carry out a request from officials in the Deputy Attorney General’s office to add Mel Gibson’s name to a list of people to have their gun rights restored."

She previously told The Times that the office of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche asked her to add Gibson's name to the list of individuals slated to have their gun rights reinstated, though she found the idea "concerning."

“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 stated.

She ultimately issued a memo to the higher-ups at the DOJ, noting that she wouldn't sign off on Gibson getting access to guns again and left the decision in the Attorney General's hands.

In a statement to the outlet, Oyer reflected on the intense atmosphere within the Justice Department.

“Unfortunately, experienced professionals throughout the Department are afraid to voice their opinions because dissent is being punished,” she said. “Decisions are being made based on relationships and loyalty, not based on facts or expertise or sound analysis, which is very alarming given that what is at stake is our public safety.”

However, according to ABC News, a DOJ official, speaking in anonymity, refuted Oyer's claims, noting that the dispute over Gibson's gun rights held no role in her termination.

At the time of writing, Mel Gibson has yet to issue a statement.

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