For decades, most people with a felony conviction have been permanently barred under federal law from possessing firearms. That barrier comes from 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). While the law has long included a pathway to seek relief, that process was effectively shut down for more than 30 years because Congress blocked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from spending money to review applications. That is now changing.