Attorney General Pam Bondi restores gun rights to Mel Gibson.
Mel is a patriot!
In a move that has stirred both applause and outrage, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has restored gun rights to Hollywood icon Mel Gibson, a decision finalized on April 4, 2025, and set to be detailed in the Federal Register. The 69-year-old actor and director, whose Second Amendment privileges were revoked in 2011 following a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction, now regains the right to bear arms—a development that underscores his status as a staunch conservative and vocal supporter of President Donald Trump. For many, Gibson’s reinstatement is a triumph of patriotism, a reward for a man who’s weathered personal storms to emerge as a cultural warrior in Trump’s America, while critics decry it as a dangerous precedent that prioritizes loyalty over public safety.
Gibson’s journey to this moment has been a rollercoaster. Born in Peekskill, New York, he shot to fame with action-packed roles in Mad Max and Lethal Weapon, later cementing his legacy with Braveheart, which snagged five Oscars in 1996. But his off-screen life has been a lightning rod—infamous 2006 antisemitic rants during a DUI arrest, followed by a 2010 altercation with ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva that led to his 2011 no-contest plea to spousal battery. That conviction stripped his gun rights under federal law, which bars domestic violence offenders from firearm ownership. Yet, Gibson’s arc didn’t end there. By 2024, he’d rebounded as a Trump ally, earning a “special ambassador” nod to Hollywood alongside Jon Voight, a role Trump touted as a bridge to conservative values in Tinseltown. “Mel’s a patriot!” an X user cheered, capturing the sentiment of fans who see him as a fighter redeemed.
Bondi’s decision didn’t come without a fight. In March, Justice Department pardon attorney Elizabeth Oyer was fired after refusing to recommend Gibson’s reinstatement, warning of the “real consequences” of arming domestic abusers. “This isn’t political—it’s a safety issue,” she told The New York Times, igniting a DOJ dust-up that saw her and other senior lawyers axed. Trump’s team denied her dismissal was linked, but the timing—weeks before Bondi’s approval—raised eyebrows. The AG, a Trump loyalist from her Florida days, greenlit Gibson among 10 others, a move aligning with the president’s February executive order to review gun policies for Second Amendment “infringements.” On X, MAGA voices roared: “Pam Bondi’s giving patriots their rights back—Mel deserves this!”
For supporters, Gibson’s a symbol of resilience. His directorial comeback with Hacksaw Ridge in 2016 earned six Oscar nods, proving his talent endures. His Trump fandom—spotted at the 2024 RNC, praising tariffs on Rumble—dovetails with a base that sees him as a victim of “woke” cancel culture. “Mel stood with Trump when Hollywood turned,” an X post declared, tying his gun rights to a broader narrative of defiance. Nevada, where Gibson resides, allows this restoration since his conviction was a misdemeanor, not a felony—though state laws vary, and critics fear a patchwork of loopholes. “He’s a patriot who paid his dues,” a fan tweeted, citing his probation, counseling, and community service as penance served.
The backlash, though, is fierce. Gun control advocates like Brady United slammed it: “You can’t be ‘tough on crime’ while arming domestic abusers.” Oyer’s ousting fuels claims of cronyism, with X users raging, “Trump rewards wife-beaters—what priorities!” Stats bolster their case—studies show domestic violence offenders with guns are five times likelier to kill partners. Gibson’s 2010 incident, where Grigorieva alleged he threatened her with a firearm, looms large. “This is a pipeline for felons,” Kris Brown of Brady tweeted, warning of a floodgate effect as Trump’s DOJ eyes broader restorations. Even some conservatives waver; Ted Cruz’s 2026 “bloodbath” fears hint at political risks if tariff chaos and moves like this alienate moderates.
Trump’s tariffs—20% on Canada, 10% on Europe—already strain the economy, with gas at $4.20 and stocks down 1,200 points. Gibson’s win feels like a cultural flex amid fiscal flak, a nod to a base that shrugs off his golf-over-duty snub of fallen soldiers. “Mel’s one of us—Trump knows it,” an X user posted, heart emoji included. Bondi’s past—backing Florida’s post-Parkland gun curbs—clashes with this, but her Trump loyalty trumps all. “She’s delivering for patriots,” a supporter argued, brushing off her mixed 2A record.
Gibson’s stayed mum, but his camp’s glee is palpable. Spotted with FBI chief Kash Patel at a UFC bout days after, he’s riding a wave of MAGA love. “Patriot Mel’s back with a bang!” X cheered, while foes lament, “Safety loses to politics.” Netanyahu’s Vance talks and Orban’s “Christian NATO” swirl globally, but here, it’s personal—Gibson’s gun rights are a line in the sand. Love him or loathe him, his restoration’s a Trump-era marker: patriotism, for some, means armed redemption, consequences be damned.
