Trump pardon recipient Angela Stanton-King and former U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin will lead September 26 training as prospective applicants prepare for the first 5,000 public application slots
Pardon Process will host a free live online Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Training on Saturday, September 26 at 10 a.m. ET, helping prospective applicants prepare for the Justice Department’s newly established process for restoring federal firearm rights.
Pardon Process founder and Trump pardon recipient Angela Stanton-King will lead the training alongside former U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, who helped oversee development of the new restoration process while at the Justice Department.
For more than 30 years, the federal pathway for restoring firearm rights under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) was effectively unavailable to most applicants. The Justice Department finalized a new process in August. On November 4, the process opens to the public, initially to the first 5,000 applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
The timeline for this federal initiative follows a staggered release framework managed by the Office of the Pardon Attorney. The new rule is historic. It took formal effect on September 21, 2026, marking a massive shift in Department of Justice policy. Stage one officially launched on September 25, 2026. However, this initial phase is strictly limited to invited candidates identified internally by the department. The public opening comes next. During stage two on November 4, 2026, any individual prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm may submit a request. Demand will be intense. The system will abruptly cap at the first 5,000 completed submissions. A subsequent third phase will open on January 4, 2027, adding another 500 available slots alongside a mandatory application fee.
“President Trump gave me a second chance that changed my life, and I know what it means to wonder whether society will ever truly let you move forward,” Stanton-King said. “There are Americans who served their sentences years or even decades ago, rebuilt their lives and may now have a legitimate path to restoring rights they lost. Pardon Process wants to make sure people understand what is required and have an opportunity to prepare before the public window opens.”
The free training will cover eligibility, required documents, electronic fingerprints, character references and the steps prospective applicants can take now to prepare.
Applicants face a notoriously rigid submission process. The new federal rule imposes massive documentation requirements on all prospective candidates seeking relief. Individuals must proactively obtain formal criminal record checks from every single state where they have resided since turning eighteen, or during the preceding twenty-five years. The shorter time period applies. Prospective applicants must also provide comprehensive charging documents for every relevant past conviction. This includes plea agreements and the complete factual basis for any entered plea. Character references are also mandatory. The application strictly requires detailed character references from individuals who are completely unrelated to the applicant by blood or marriage. These designated references must have known the applicant for at least three full years. Finally, they must sign their official statements under penalty of perjury.
Martin served as U.S. Pardon Attorney during development of the federal restoration process and recently launched Firearm Rights for Americans, an organization focused on helping eligible Americans understand pathways to restoring their Second Amendment rights.
Federal restoration is not automatic or guaranteed. The Justice Department will evaluate applicants individually, and restoration of federal firearm rights does not override independent state firearm restrictions.
The Department of Justice outlined a structured framework of presumptive disqualifiers. These triggers cause an automatic denial unless extraordinary circumstances are proven. These disqualifiers are grouped into distinct tiers. The tiers include permanent bans, ten-year waiting periods, and five-year restrictions. Permanent presumptions against relief apply to extreme offenses. This includes crimes involving the death of another person, human trafficking, terrorism, or violent racketeering. A ten-year presumption against restoration applies to individuals convicted of drug manufacturing, threats of violence, or misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. These complex legal barriers require significant preparation to overcome. Because of this, educational programs are absolutely critical for helping applicants navigate the rigorous compliance standards successfully.
Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Training Saturday, September 26, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. ET Live on Zoom | Free registration: PardonProcess.com
About Pardon Process Pardon Process helps individuals and families understand and navigate the state and federal clemency process, including eligibility, background review, documentation and application preparation. Founded by criminal justice and second-chance advocate Angela Stanton-King, Pardon Process was created to make the clemency process more understandable and accessible to people seeking a second chance. Pardon Process does not guarantee pardons or provide legal advice.
Media Contact:
Kristin Davis
Think Right PR
https://www.pardonprocess.com/
