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What began as a stunning court docket order that would have pressured main gun rights teams to show over their member lists to the federal authorities has now been vacated.
The Second Modification Basis (SAF) and Firearms Coverage Coalition (FPC), joined by the Louisiana Capturing Affiliation and a number of other non-public residents, had confronted an unprecedented demand of their ongoing case, Reese v. ATF.
The case challenges the federal regulation that bans licensed firearm sellers from promoting handguns and handgun ammunition to adults beneath 21.
Earlier this month, U.S. District Decide Robert R. Summerhays—on the request of the Division of Justice—ordered SAF and FPC to supply the federal government with “a verified checklist of their members” to implement the judgment. The order instantly raised alarms throughout the gun group, with critics calling it a backdoor gun registry try.
However as of October 14, 2025, that order is off the desk. The court docket vacated the requirement after SAF, FPC, and DOJ collectively filed a movement to amend the judgment.
“We had no intention of releasing any non-public membership information and had been ready to take all mandatory steps to make sure our member checklist was not disclosed to the federal government,” mentioned SAF Director of Authorized Operations Invoice Sack. “Fortunately, the court docket responded to our joint movement promptly and vacated its authentic order.”
The court docket will now maintain a cellphone convention to make clear the correct scope of aid, however for now, no group is required at hand over any names.
SAF founder and Government Vice President Alan Gottlieb was blunt concerning the precept at stake:
“It’s preposterous to suppose we might launch any sort of member information to anybody. We’re grateful the court docket noticed its error… We’ll by no means launch the non-public information of SAF supporters to the federal government, full cease. That’s akin to letting the proverbial fox within the henhouse.”
The lawsuit itself stays a key entrance within the nationwide debate over whether or not 18- to 20-year-olds can legally buy handguns.
Earlier this 12 months, the Fifth Circuit Courtroom of Appeals sided with SAF and FPC, ruling that the handgun ban violates the Second Modification. A conflicting ruling from the Fourth Circuit has created a circuit break up, making it probably the problem will ultimately head to the U.S. Supreme Courtroom.
For now, gun homeowners can breathe somewhat simpler understanding that no membership information will likely be handed to the federal government, however the broader constitutional combat is way from over.
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