Trump administration seeks to ban trans people from owning firearms

A controversial proposal, seeking to bar transgender Americans from owning firearms by classifying gender dysphoria as a disqualifying mental health condition, reportedly under consideration by the Trump administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has sparked fierce backlash across the political spectrum and among civil rights advocates.

The idea emerged following a mass shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, allegedly committed by a trans woman. In response, DOJ officials have floated the notion of restricting gun access for individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria, citing concerns over mental instability. A DOJ spokesperson stated the department is “evaluating options to prevent the pattern of violence we have seen from individuals with specific mental health challenges,” though no formal policy has yet been introduced.

However, legal experts and gun rights organisations have condemned the proposal as unconstitutional and discriminatory. The National Rifle Association (NRA), typically aligned with Republican administrations, issued a strong rebuke: “The NRA does not, and will not, support any policy proposals that implement sweeping gun bans that arbitrarily strip law-abiding citizens of their Second Amendment rights without due process”.

Other major gun rights groups have echoed this sentiment. Kostas Moros of the Second Amendment Foundation remarked: “To the extent it was a trial balloon, we all hit it like a clay pigeon”.

Critics argue that the proposal lacks both legal precedent and scientific justification. Federal law currently requires a judicial determination of mental incompetence before revoking gun rights. Moreover, studies show trans individuals are significantly more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. The Williams Institute at UCLA notes that trans people are over four times more likely to experience violent crime than their cisgender peers.

The proposal has also raised alarms among LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, who view it as part of a broader pattern of anti-trans policies under the Trump administration. Previous actions have included bans on trans athletes, restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare, and the removal of federal recognition for transgender individuals.