Texas State Rep. Wes Virdell (R) has introduced a bill that would restore Second Amendment rights to non-violent felons. State Rep. Virdell argues that individuals convicted of minor offenses should not face lifelong restrictions on gun ownership.
The Texas lawmaker announced the legislation - HB 2759 - on social media, explaining his reasoning behind the proposal.
“In the past, the term ‘felon’ was reserved for the most heinous crimes and was punishable by death," he wrote on X. "Today, the term felony is used for even minor crimes." “While I don’t want to see violent offenders have the right to self-defense restored, I do believe people with minor crimes should not be punished for the rest of their life from participating in their inalienable rights," he added.
Today, I filed HB2759 to restore the gun rights of non-violent felons.
In the past, the term felon was reserved for the most heinous crimes and punishable by death. Today, the term felony is used for even minor crimes.
While I don't want to see violent offenders have the right…
— Wes Virdell (@wesvirdelltx) February 13, 2025
Under federal law, individuals convicted of a felony are prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. However, state Rep. Virdell’s bill would seek to allow non-violent felons, particularly those who never served jail time, to regain their gun rights. In his reasoning, he emphasized that many citizens are convicted of felonies that do not involve violence or significant harm, yet they face lifelong consequences, including restrictions on firearm ownership.
“There was a time in our history where people’s rights were restored after serving their time, and I think we need to have a real discussion about it,” he expressed. “If someone is bad enough to not have their rights restored, they should still be in prison.”
His proposal comes amid broader national debates over criminal justice reform and Second Amendment rights.
Virdell also suggested that Texas should reconsider its penal code and re-evaluate what constitutes a serious or “heinous” crime. “I think we are at a time when we need to revisit what actually constitutes heinous crimes and update our penal code to reflect that,” he suggested.
