End Gun Violence Act Bans Firearm Sales for Five Years After a 'Violent Misdemeanor' Conviction

The “End Gun Violence Act of 2025” is a major overhaul to who can and cannot legally buy a gun or ammunition in the United States. Right now, federal law mostly focuses on felony convictions for disqualification. This bill adds a new category: anyone convicted of a “violent misdemeanor” within the last five years would be federally prohibited from purchasing or receiving firearms or ammo (Sec. 2).

The New Definition of 'Violent Misdemeanor'

This isn't just about adding a new disqualifier; it’s about defining it, and the definition is where the rubber meets the road. A crime counts as a “violent misdemeanor” if it's classified as a misdemeanor locally (state, tribal, or federal) and involves using, attempting to use, or threatening physical force, or having the specific intent to cause physical harm, or knowingly causing injury (Sec. 3). Because this definition relies on varying state and local laws, what counts as a disqualifying offense could be inconsistent across state lines. Think of two people in different states getting into a minor bar fight: one might get hit with a charge that meets this federal definition, while the other might not, leading to a five-year federal gun ban for the first person.

The Procedural Catch: Ensuring Due Process

The bill tries to mitigate some of the potential unfairness by adding a major caveat: a conviction only counts for this federal ban if the person had certain procedural safeguards. Specifically, the person must have either had a lawyer or knowingly waived their right to one. If they were entitled to a jury trial, they must have had one or knowingly waived it (Sec. 3). This is a crucial detail, especially for lower-level misdemeanor courts where legal representation isn't always standard practice. If you were convicted in a local court without a lawyer, that conviction might not trigger the federal ban, even if the crime fits the “violent” definition.

Who Gets Hit by the Ban?

This new rule primarily impacts two groups. First, individuals with recent misdemeanor convictions that fit the bill’s definition. For someone who was convicted of assault five years ago, this means they are federally prohibited from buying a firearm, even if they served their time and paid their dues. Second, licensed firearm dealers (FFLs) are now on the hook for checking this new prohibition. They must ensure that the person passing the background check doesn't have a disqualifying violent misdemeanor on their record, adding a layer of complexity to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) process (Sec. 4).

Clearing the Record: Expungements and Pardons

There's a provision for relief: if a conviction is expunged, set aside, or the person receives a pardon, it generally won't count as a disqualifying conviction. However, there's a significant exception: if the expungement or pardon specifically states that the person is still barred from possessing firearms, then the ban remains in place (Sec. 3). This could be a trap for people seeking restoration of rights. If you’re seeking a pardon, you need to make sure the language used doesn't inadvertently include a firearm prohibition that would keep the five-year federal ban active.

Finally, the bill is not retroactive. The new prohibitions only apply to convictions that occur six months after the bill becomes law (Sec. 5). If you had a qualifying violent misdemeanor conviction last year, you are not subject to the new federal ban—unless you get another conviction six months after this law is enacted.