Trump officials are weighing a proposal to ban transgender Americans from owning guns after the Minneapolis church shooting.
Senior Justice Department officials under President Donald Trump are considering proposals to bar transgender Americans from owning firearms following last week’s deadly Minneapolis Catholic church shooting, according to two officials familiar with the discussions.
The attack, carried out by a 23-year-old transgender woman, left two children dead and 21 others injured. Conservative commentators have since argued that gender dysphoria should disqualify individuals from gun ownership.
A Justice Department official said the goal is “to ensure that mentally ill individuals suffering from gender dysphoria are unable to obtain firearms while they are unstable and unwell.”
Such a move would mark a sharp expansion of Trump-era restrictions on transgender rights, including military service bans. Legal experts warn the policy could face constitutional challenges, as federal law requires a judge’s ruling before gun rights are revoked.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has already led efforts targeting gender-affirming care nationwide.