Mel Gibson attends a special pre-premiere screening of Summer of Monsters at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles, California, 24 September 2024. Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic.
The US Department of Justice has allowed actor Mel Gibson to own a gun again, despite his previous conviction for domestic violence. This was reported by The New York Times, citing sources close to the decision.
Gibson, known for his right-wing political views and support for Donald Trump, is one of nine people who will have their gun rights restored. Their names will soon be published in the federal register.
Although the US Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms, federal law prohibits most people convicted of domestic violence from owning firearms.
Gibson’s past
In 2011, Gibson was sentenced by a California judge to three years’ probation for assaulting his ex-girlfriend. The actor pleaded guilty under the “nolo contendere” procedure, which allowed him to avoid imprisonment.
Internal disputes in the Ministry of Justice
According to the NYT, the decision to restore Gibson’s gun rights has caused tensions within the Justice Department. Elizabeth Oyer, the pardon attorney, refused to approve the decision last month. She was fired the next day.
In an interview with The New York Times, Oyer said that a senior Justice Department official insisted that Gibson’s gun rights be restored because of his personal ties to Donald Trump.
“My negative opinion was not a political decision, but was based on the fact that I did not conduct a full investigation into Gibson’s case and that a conviction for domestic violence is extremely troubling,” Oyer said.
Gibson as Trump’s “special ambassador” in Hollywood
A few days before his inauguration in January for a second term, Donald Trump appointed Mel Gibson, along with actors Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight, as “special ambassadors” in Hollywood.
The decision to restore the actor’s right to bear arms caused a wave of criticism from human rights activists and political opponents.
