The Trump administration has revived a federal program that allows prohibited persons to apply for federal gun rights restoration. Headlines have followed. But if you live in Massachusetts and lost your firearms rights due to a conviction or other disqualifying event, you need to understand one critical point before getting excited: a federal grant of relief does not restore your Massachusetts gun rights.
Here is what is actually happening and what it means for you.
What Is the § 925(c) Program?
Under federal law — specifically 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) — a person prohibited from possessing firearms can apply to the U.S. Attorney General for relief from that federal disability. To qualify, the applicant must show that their record and circumstances demonstrate they are not likely to be dangerous to public safety, and that granting relief would not be contrary to the public interest.
The program has existed since the Gun Control Act of 1968. At its peak in the 1980s, ATF processed thousands of applications annually and approved roughly 40 percent of them.
Why Did It Stop for 33 Years?
In 1992, Congress inserted a funding rider into ATF’s annual appropriations bill prohibiting any funds from being used to act on § 925(c) applications. That rider was renewed every year since. ATF could receive applications but could not process them. In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed in United States v. Bean, 537 U.S. 71 (2002), that ATF’s failure to act did not count as a denial — so applicants could not even seek judicial review. For over three decades, the program existed on paper and nowhere else.
What Did the Trump Administration Do?
Rather than waiting for Congress to lift the funding restriction, the administration found a workaround. The appropriations rider only prohibits ATF from spending funds on § 925(c) applications. By withdrawing ATF’s delegated authority over the program and moving it to the Office of the Pardon Attorney — which operates under different appropriations — the administration bypassed the funding bar entirely.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi issued the first 10 grants of relief on March 31, 2025. A second batch of 22 individuals received relief in February 2026. As of today, 32 people have had their federal firearms rights restored under the revived program.
A formal rule establishing an application process, a $20 filing fee, and eligibility criteria was proposed in July 2025. The final rule is expected in spring 2026, after which a public application portal will open.
Why This Does Not Help Most Massachusetts Residents
The Department of Justice’s own proposed rule states this plainly: relief under § 925(c) “only relieves the applicant of specific federal firearm disabilities. It does not restore the right to possess a firearm under state law if the applicant is independently subject to any such state-law prohibition.“
Massachusetts has its own firearms licensing system under M.G.L. c. 140. To obtain a License to Carry (LTC) or Firearms Identification Card (FID), you must satisfy the licensing authority that issuance does not violate state law — not just federal law. Massachusetts disqualifying factors are significantly broader than federal ones.
A conviction for any misdemeanor punishable by more than two years, any drug offense, or any weapons violation disqualifies you under state law regardless of what happens at the federal level. Licensing authorities also retain broad discretion to deny based on “unsuitability.”
If you want to know more if you are suitable to have an LTC, you can check this blog about “Suitability in Massachusetts: What Gun Owners Need to Know in 2026.”
Federal relief removes one layer of the problem. The Massachusetts layer remains, and it is often the harder one to address.
What Are the Options in Massachusetts?
There is no single answer. The available paths depend entirely on the nature of the underlying disqualifying event.
Firearms Licensing Review Board (FLRB)
Under M.G.L. c. 140, § 130B can restore firearms rights for persons with Massachusetts misdemeanor convictions punishable by 2½ years or less, provided five years have passed since conviction or completion of probation. The board cannot act on felony convictions, drug offenses, weapons charges, or domestic violence offenses.
Expungement
Under M.G.L. c. 276, §§ 100E–100U permanently destroys the record and can restore both state and federal firearms rights. Eligibility is narrow — generally limited to offenses committed before age 21, with waiting periods of three to seven years — and certain offense categories are excluded entirely.
Learn more about expungement here: “What is the Difference Between a Petition to Seal vs. Expunge in Massachusetts?“
A Governor's pardon
CORI sealing does not restore firearms rights
Massachusetts licensing authorities have statutory access to sealed records under M.G.L. c. 6, § 172. A sealed conviction is still a disqualifying conviction for LTC and FID purposes.
The Bottom Line
The revival of the § 925(c) program is a significant development in federal firearms law. For Massachusetts residents, it is at most one piece of a larger puzzle — and a piece that only matters after the state-level barriers are addressed first. If you have lost your firearms rights and want to understand your options, the path forward depends on the specific facts of your case.
Contact the Law Office of Matthew W. Peterson to discuss what remedies may be available to you.
Matthew Peterson is a Boston criminal defense attorney who represents clients throughout Eastern Massachusetts in firearms licensing, LTC appeals, and related criminal defense matters.
