The Trump Administration is reviving the federal “relief from disability” guns-for-felons program. Under this program, convicted felons could apply to ATF for “relief” from the “disability” of not being able to buy or possess a gun. From 1985 to 1991, thousands of felons received “relief,” at a taxpayer cost of more than $21 million. In 1992, after VPC research revealed details of the program (including crimes later committed by those granted “relief”), Congress defunded it.
Read the Violence Policy Center’s June 2025 comments submitted opposing the interim final rule on restarting the federal relief from disability program.
Read the Violence Policy Center’s 2000 study Guns for Felons
