President Donald Trump issued an government order “defending Second Modification rights.”
“The Second Modification is an indispensable safeguard of safety and liberty,” Trump wrote. “It has preserved the best of the American individuals to guard ourselves, our households, and our freedoms for the reason that founding of our nice Nation. As a result of it’s foundational to sustaining all different rights held by People, the best to maintain and bear arms should not be infringed. “
The order was issued late Friday. Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi was given 30 days to assessment all orders, rules, steerage, plans, worldwide agreements, and different actions of government departments and businesses to search for any ongoing infringements of the American public’s Second Modification-protected rights. The order calls out actions taken by President Joe Biden.
President Biden pushed a number of anti-gun government orders that curtailed the rights of American gun house owners. These embody making an attempt to reclassify pistols outfitted with stabilizing gadgets as short-barreled rifles (SBR). The previous occupant of the White Home additionally instructed the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to reclassify unfinished frames as firearms. The Biden Administration additionally enacted a zero-tolerance coverage for minor errors made by federal firearms licensees (FFL) that elevated FFL revocations by 500%. Lastly, Biden ordered the ATF to alter the engaged within the enterprise rule that might require nearly anybody promoting a gun to get an FFL or switch the firearm by means of an FFL. Many known as this rule again door common background checks (UBC).
The previous White Home Workplace of Gun Violence Prevention can be within the government order’s crosshairs. Many gun rights advocates claimed the Workplace gave teams like Everytown, Giffords, and Brady a unprecedented quantity of energy over the White Home’s gun coverage. The controversial Workplace was shuttered shortly after Trump returned to the Oval Workplace. Gun rights advocates declare that the previous White Home Workplace of Gun Violence Prevention wasn’t about making People safer however about infringing on the best to bear arms.
Ms. Bondi should additionally assessment all litigation that the Division of Justice (DOJ) and ATF are at the moment concerned in or may very well be concerned sooner or later. She should see if it impacts People’ proper to maintain and bear arms. This motion may imply that the ATF and the DOJ select to not defend some present instances difficult gun legal guidelines and guidelines. This variation may imply that the DOJ enters into consent decrees with the plaintiffs, ending expensive litigation that the ATF is at the moment defending.
BREAKING @realDonaldTrump simply issued an Govt Order “to evaluate any ongoing infringements of the Second Modification rights of our residents, and current a proposed plan of motion… to guard the [rights] of all People.” pic.twitter.com/yvCIUJnQ5E
— Gun House owners of America (@GunOwners) February 7, 2025
The ATF should assessment all classifications of firearms and ammunition. This motion refers to reclassifying pistols outfitted with braces and unfinished frames. This variation may also apply to ammunition that the ATF banned from import due to a change in classification to “armor piercing.” The Second Modification neighborhood would welcome any modifications to revive their gun rights. Ms. Bondi will work with the home coverage advisor to ascertain a course of for implementing any modifications.
Gun rights teams celebrated the chief order and felt it was a step ahead in the best path.
“Gun house owners fought laborious to elect a president who would take a sledgehammer to Biden’s unconstitutional gun management insurance policies, and in the present day, President Trump proved he’s severe about that battle, stated Gun House owners of America Director of Federal Affairs Aidan Johnston. “We hope that this government order is simply the primary of many victories reestablishing our Second Modification rights through the Trump administration. GOA is not going to relaxation till each unlawful gun seize from the Biden administration is absolutely repealed and the Second Modification is absolutely restored.”
“It’s reassuring that after 4 lengthy years of the chief department assaulting our Second Modification rights that the Trump Administration is investigating avenues to undo the harm inflicted by the prior administration,” stated SAF Govt Director Adam Kraut. “We look ahead to seeing tangible outcomes benefiting gun house owners and the person liberty of each American.”
“We’re delighted that President Trump is following by means of on his guarantees to gun house owners through the marketing campaign,” stated CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “We’re notably grateful to see he’s directing the Legal professional Basic to look at all orders, rules and different actions taken by the Biden administration affecting the Second Modification rights of law-abiding Americans throughout Joe Biden’s whole time period in workplace.”
“The American Suppressor Affiliation applauds President Trump’s signing of an government order in the present day to guard and broaden the Second Modification rights of all People,” stated Knox Williams, ASA President and Govt Director. “On Behalf of thousands and thousands of law-abiding gun house owners, we’d prefer to thank President Trump for his fearless management to guard our Second Modification rights. That is the primary administration in historical past to explicitly deal with unacceptable delays in kind processing occasions. Their dedication to assessment ATF’s classification of firearms, together with suppressors and different gadgets regulated below the Nationwide Firearms Act, is a vital step to ending the bureaucratic stranglehold on our business. We look ahead to working alongside President Trump and his crew to repair our damaged system and restore widespread sense to our firearms legal guidelines.”
Whereas pro-liberty teams celebrated the chief order, anti-gun organizations vented their frustration.
“Donald Trump waited till Friday evening to challenge an Govt Order rolling again lifesaving gun measures as a result of he is aware of will probably be extremely unpopular,” a consultant for Giffords stated.
“Sadly, this comes as no shock,” stated a Brady United spokesperson. “However now we have been making ready! The American individuals help gun security. We is not going to again down.”
“The bipartisan, life-saving, and intensely in style progress on gun security made below the management of the Biden Administration is per the Second Modification, which is why 15 Senate Republicans supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act,” stated an Everytown spokesperson.
This government order is a primary step towards growing a street map to safeguard People’ proper to maintain and bear arms. There may be plenty of work to undo the harm of the Biden administration, however gun house owners now have a brand new hope.
About John Crump
Mr. Crump is an NRA teacher and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed individuals from all walks of life, and on the Structure. John lives in Northern Virginia along with his spouse and sons, observe him on X at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
