Washington DC - In his first move as President Donald Trump's newly appointed Attorney General, Todd Blanche is pushing to give some criminals their gun rights back.

On Monday, the Department of Justice announced the launch of the "Federal Firearm Rights Restoration" – a new process that will allow eligible individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms to apply for restoration of their rights.

Eligible individuals include felons, fugitives, unlawful drug users, those with mental health issues, and those who have faced past domestic violence issues.

Individuals presumed to be disqualified include anyone currently incarcerated or awaiting sentencing, fugitives from justice, drug addicts – with the exception of marijuana users – and sex offenders, though they are still encouraged to apply.

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Applications will be permanently denied for individuals convicted of such crimes as murder, rape and sexual assault, human trafficking, extortion, arson, and terrorism.

There is no fee to apply, and restoration decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

"The Second Amendment is not a second-class right, and the federal government should not permanently deprive Americans of a constitutional right without regard to whether they pose a danger to public safety," Blanche said in a statement.

"This rule establishes a rigorous, commonsense process that protects the public while giving deserving Americans a real path to restoration."

Gun rights advocates hailed the move as an expansion of Second Amendment rights, while critics argue it does away with regulations that helped prevent crime and gun violence.