The ATF’s War on Gun Owners: Blue State AGs Double Down on Overreach

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It’s no secret that gun owners across America view the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) as an agency with an inflated sense of purpose. Tasked with enforcement, the ATF has increasingly turned its focus to rulemaking, often looking more like a rogue lawmaker than an enforcer of existing statutes. And now, a coalition of 17 state attorneys general from reliably blue states is rushing to defend the ATF’s legally questionable “rules,” pushing the limits of what bureaucracies should be allowed to do.

This latest fiasco is being spearheaded by New Jersey’s Democrat Attorney General, Matt Platkin, who, on January 16, proudly announced his group’s intent to shield ATF regulations that redefine forced reset triggers as machine guns and broaden the definition of who qualifies as “engaged in the business” of selling firearms. Yes, in a country built on the rule of law, the ATF and its allies are attempting to rewrite the playbook to fit their anti-gun agenda.

Platkin claimed, “The incoming administration has threatened these common-sense protections, so states are stepping in.” But here’s the rub: what these bureaucrats deem “common sense” is widely seen as an outright attack on the Second Amendment. Common sense, after all, looks very different depending on whether you’re a gun-grabbing politician in New Jersey or a rancher in Texas safeguarding your family and property.

Let’s start with the rule redefining forced reset triggers as machine guns. For those unfamiliar, forced reset triggers are legal devices used by law-abiding citizens to improve their shooting experience. They do not meet the statutory definition of a machine gun, and yet the ATF has twisted the language of existing law in an attempt to criminalize their use.

Unsurprisingly, this overreach landed in court. Last August, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor issued a preliminary injunction blocking the ATF from enforcing this rule, stating plainly, “Plaintiffs contend that the ATF’s regulation broadening the machine gun definition is an arbitrary and capricious expansion of the agency’s authority. Plaintiffs are likely correct.” In layman’s terms, the judge told the ATF to stay in its lane.

The case is now with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, where, if precedent is any guide, the ATF is poised for yet another defeat. But don’t expect the agency or its cheerleaders in blue-state governments to throw in the towel. Their modus operandi is clear: rewrite the rules, courts and Constitution be damned.

Next, we have the ATF’s attempt to redefine who is “engaged in the business” of selling firearms. Under this new rule, private individuals who occasionally sell firearms could be forced to obtain federal firearms licenses (FFLs) and comply with burdensome regulations typically reserved for professional dealers. Once again, the courts intervened. In May 2024, a U.S. District Court in Texas issued a temporary restraining order halting the enforcement of this rule for members of groups like Gun Owners of America and the Tennessee Firearms Association.

This isn’t the first time this particular regulation has been challenged. Last year, 26 Republican attorneys general filed lawsuits against the rule. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin nailed it when he said, “Congress has never passed into law the ATF’s dramatic new expansion of firearms dealer license requirements, and President Biden cannot unilaterally impose them.” Griffin’s words cut to the core of the issue: the ATF isn’t enforcing the law—it’s attempting to create it.

Leading this charge to prop up the ATF’s overreach are the usual suspects: AGs from states like California, Maryland, Oregon, and Vermont, all eager to spend taxpayer money defending rules that even courts recognize as dubious. These states, many of which are plagued by rising crime and lenient policies on violent offenders, seem far more interested in disarming law-abiding citizens than addressing the root causes of crime.

Let’s not kid ourselves—this isn’t about public safety. It’s about control. By chipping away at gun rights through regulations and redefinitions, the ATF and its allies hope to weaken the Second Amendment, one bureaucratic rule at a time.

This battle isn’t just about forced reset triggers or firearms sales; it’s about the broader principle of whether unelected bureaucrats can bypass Congress and undermine constitutional rights. If the ATF can get away with these overreaches, what’s next? Will they start targeting ammunition? Accessories like scopes or slings? The slippery slope is real, and gun owners know it.

Fortunately, resistance is strong. From grassroots organizations to state governments, Americans are standing up to this overreach. Courts have already shown a willingness to hold the ATF accountable, but the fight is far from over.

It’s time to send a clear message to Washington and its allies in blue states: the Constitution is not a suggestion. The rights enshrined in it, including the right to bear arms, are not up for negotiation. Gun owners must remain vigilant and engaged because this fight is about more than just specific rules—it’s about defending the very foundation of American freedom. The ATF’s overreach won’t end on its own; it requires sustained pressure and legal challenges to ensure bureaucratic agencies stay within their bounds.

The stakes are high, but the Second Amendment is worth defending. And as these cases wind through the courts, one thing remains certain: America’s gun owners won’t back down.

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