President Trump has recently signed an executive order called “Protecting Second Amendment Rights” that could potentially halt the regulatory efforts of the Biden administration’s Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in terms of strengthening firearm regulations.
Although the order lacks specific policy details, it is seen as a promising development in curbing the perceived overreach of the ATF, which some believe has been using regulations to criminalize activities that were previously considered legal.
The executive order reaffirms the importance of the Second Amendment as a crucial protection of security and liberty for the American people. It emphasizes that the right to bear arms is fundamental in safeguarding all other rights of Americans and should not be violated.
The order requires:
(i) All Presidential and agencies’ actions from January 2021 through January 2025 that purport to promote safety but may have impinged on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens;
(ii) Rules promulgated by the Department of Justice, including by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, from January 2021 through January 2025 pertaining to firearms and/or Federal firearms licensees;
(iii) Agencies’ plans, orders, and actions regarding the so-called “enhanced regulatory enforcement policy” pertaining to firearms and/or Federal firearms licensees;
(iv) Reports and related documents issued by the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention;
(v) The positions taken by the United States in any and all ongoing and potential litigation that affects or could affect the ability of Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights;
(vi) Agencies’ classifications of firearms and ammunition; and
(vii) The processing of applications to make, manufacture, transfer, or export firearms.
The man leading the review effort is Domestic Policy Advisor Steven Miller. Gun rights folks couldn’t ask for a better advocate. The only question mark is that he will be working with Attorney General Pam Bondi, who acquired the reputation as something of a squish on gun rights while she was Florida’s Attorney General.
Even though gun rights have scored some big wins, the ATF is creating nonsense regulations broadening the need to hold a federal firearms license and the odious “frame and receiver” rule that is supposed to stop the sale of “ghost guns.” While destroying regulations designed solely to entrap the unwary, I hope Miller and Bondi spend some time on making the “full faith and credit” clause apply to concealed carry permits to keep gun owners safe when they travel.
