Late last Friday, President Trump released a short but sweet Executive Order when it comes to how the Justice Department looks at federal gun laws.
The terse ~400-word order, titled "Protecting Second Amendment Rights," was divided into three sections and 13 subsections with the gist being that, within 30 days, the Attorney General, is to examine current federal regulations, policy, and orders "to assess any ongoing infringements of the Second Amendment rights of our citizens," and then bring a plan of action back to the White House.
Specifically mentioned for review would be the actions, rules, and orders that came down during the Biden administration, which would presumably target the controversial enhanced background check processes, the ATF's "Engaged in the Business" rule, "Pistol Brace" rule, and "Frames and Receiver" rule.
The Biden Administration's zero-tolerance policy for minor clerical errors by licensed dealers and manufacturers could be reviewed.
There could also be movement on import and export restrictions placed into effect by the former administration. Even the form changes adopted by the ATF in the past few years could be reversed.
Further, as the DOJ, under the Biden Administration, was actively fighting dozens of gun reform challenges in federal courts, the Trump order could see "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," shift. Legal victories come a lot easier if the government drops its objections to the challenges.
"For the past four years, the previous president and his administration attacked law-abiding gun owners and the lawful firearm industry at every opportunity, crippling small businesses and turning law-abiding Americans into criminals overnight, all while trampling on Constitutional rights and ignoring laws passed by Congress," said Lawrence G. Keane, the Senior Vice President for Government and Public Affairs and General Counsel for the National Shooting Sports Administration. "No more – gone are those days. President Trump’s welcomed Executive Order means those exercising their rights to keep and bear arms will be able to continue protecting their loved ones, homes, and property and do so knowing the President of the United States has their back."
Pro-gun groups embraced the order, with the NRA calling it "a monumental win for gun rights in America and a clear statement from President Trump that he intends to uphold his promise to protect Constitutional freedoms."
Gun Owners of America, while voicing concerns over the past anti-gun track record of newly confirmed Trump AG Pam Bondi, described the Executive Order as a "historic move sets the stage for a broader restoration of Second Amendment rights."
Meanwhile, national gun control groups are more apoplectic with Brady urging "objectivity and restraint" before Trump possibly takes a chainsaw to Biden-era firearms policy red tape while Giffords attempted a Jedi mind trick by saying, "The Second Amendment isn’t under attack," and thus the handcuffs on exercising it aren't really there, a move repeated by Everytown.
Not too fast...
Before celebrating shirtless in the streets just yet, the EO from Trump's desk should be taken with a pinch of salt, as it simply calls for a review and recommendations to implement, while Government traditionally is renowned for allowing the concerns of the citizenry to slip through the cracks and be forgotten.
Meanwhile, Trump left a less-than-stellar record of pro-2A accomplishments in his first term.
It should also be pointed out that the priority of the 2A action from the Oval Office only came weeks after a flurry of other actions repealing over 70 Biden Executive orders including AmeriCorps alumni appointments, issuing an order on "Promoting beautiful federal civic architecture" and another on renaming Mt. McKinley and the Gulf of America.
Driving deeper into the salt, any change that can be easily made by a current administration can just as easily be undone by a later administration and would need Congressional reinforcement to become more permanent.
In short, if you are a pro-gun advocate, don't take your foot off the gas. There is still much to be done before the victory lap.
Banner image: Trump-themed AO1911 seen at SHOT Show '25. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
