SHOCKING Proposal: Strip Rights From Transgender Gun Owners

Fox News host Lawrence Jones ignited a firestorm by calling for transgender Americans diagnosed with gender dysphoria to be stripped of their Second Amendment rights, raising urgent questions about whether identity-based gun restrictions will become the Trump administration’s next constitutional battleground.

Story Snapshot

Lawrence Jones suggested on Fox News that transgender people with gender dysphoria should be barred from gun ownership following a tragic Rhode Island shooting
The Trump Justice Department is actively exploring legal frameworks to restrict firearms access for transgender Americans, despite previous NRA opposition
Constitutional experts warn any identity-based gun ban would face serious legal challenges under both Second Amendment and equal protection principles
Data reveals 98 percent of mass shooters are cisgender men, contradicting claims that transgender individuals pose disproportionate threats

Jones Distinguishes Between Identity and Diagnosis

Lawrence Jones sparked nationwide controversy on February 17, 2026, during Fox News’ The Five when he drew a specific line regarding transgender gun ownership. Jones clarified his position by stating those who simply “want to wear a dress” should face no restrictions, but argued anyone who “from a psychological standpoint, think that you are another sex, you should not have a gun.” His remarks followed a devastating shooting at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where Robert Dorgan fatally shot their son and ex-wife during a youth hockey game before taking their own life.

Jones criticized Democrats for failing to address what he characterized as a mental health gap in gun policy, claiming they remained “quick to talk about gun restrictions” but had “not been able to address this issue with more clarity.” His comments attempted to distinguish between gender expression and clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, though critics argued this distinction still inappropriately conflates gender identity with disqualifying mental illness. Medical and psychiatric professional bodies do not classify being transgender as a mental disorder, undermining the foundation of Jones’ argument.

Trump Administration Revives Constitutional Fight

The Justice Department is engaged in early-stage discussions about limiting gun purchases by transgender individuals, with conversations involving the Office of Legal Counsel and potentially the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Officials confirmed they are “thinking through a feasible legal framework” though no concrete policy proposals have emerged. This renewed effort follows a 2025 attempt to ban transgender gun ownership after a Minneapolis church shooting that killed two children, which faced pushback from the National Rifle Association declaring “the Second Amendment isn’t up for debate.”

Constitutional law experts warn that any restriction targeting Americans based on identity rather than behavior would face heightened judicial scrutiny. Existing firearm prohibitions rely on demonstrated criminal conduct, legal adjudication, or specific mental health commitments—not identity characteristics. A blanket ban on transgender gun ownership would almost certainly trigger challenges under both Second Amendment protections and equal protection principles, potentially reaching the Supreme Court. This represents a concerning precedent for conservatives who champion constitutional rights, as identity-based restrictions could establish dangerous legal frameworks affecting all Americans.

Statistical Reality Contradicts Threat Narrative

The Violence Prevention Project’s research demolishes claims that transgender individuals represent disproportionate public safety threats, finding that up to 98 percent of mass shooting perpetrators are cisgender men. This overwhelming statistical reality raises serious questions about whether proposed restrictions target actual threats or reflect political priorities divorced from evidence-based policymaking. The Pawtucket tragedy involved complex family circumstances including divorce and personal struggles, yet Jones and others focused narrowly on Dorgan’s transgender identity rather than broader factors that might predict violence.

The constitutional implications extend beyond Second Amendment concerns to fundamental questions about equal protection under law. Federal gun purchase forms already require disclosure of mental health adjudications and commitments, providing mechanisms to address genuine safety concerns without sweeping identity-based prohibitions. Medical professionals may face perverse incentives to withhold gender dysphoria diagnoses if such diagnoses trigger automatic rights restrictions, potentially harming patients who need treatment while creating arbitrary barriers to constitutional protections. For Americans who value both gun rights and limited government, this debate underscores the danger of allowing any administration to strip constitutional rights based on identity categories rather than individual conduct.