Gibson is not legally permitted to carry guns after he pleaded no contest to battering his former girlfriend in 2011. Domestic violence offenders are barred from owning weapons.
A Justice Department official, Elizabeth Oyer, claims she was fired after refusing to restore Mel Gibson's gun rights following his appointment as "special ambassador to Hollywood" by Trump. Gibson, who supported Trump, is prohibited from carrying guns due to a 2011 domestic violence conviction. Oyer refused to add Gibson to a memo assessing candidates for gun rights restoration, citing concerns about giving guns to domestic abusers. She alleges pressure from a Justice Department official citing Trump's personal relationship with Gibson. The Justice Department denies Oyer's termination was related to the Gibson decision.