The Department of Justice just made the most pro-Second Amendment move in nearly a decade, establishing a task force specifically designed to protect gun rights from government overreach—leaving gun control advocates absolutely fuming.
At a Glance
- DOJ launches dedicated Second Amendment Task Force chaired by Attorney General Pamela Bondi to protect constitutional gun rights
- ATF immediately ends Biden’s “zero tolerance” policy that unfairly targeted law-abiding gun owners and dealers
- Task force will revise controversial Biden-era regulations on stabilizing braces and the definition of who qualifies as a firearms dealer
- Initiative includes members from multiple DOJ offices, the ATF, and FBI to develop pro-gun legal strategies and policies
- Attorney General Bondi declared the Second Amendment will no longer be treated as a “second-class right”
A Constitutional Reset After Years of Government Overreach
In a move that has gun owners across the nation letting out a collective sigh of relief, the Department of Justice has established a dedicated Second Amendment Task Force designed to protect and advance Americans’ constitutional right to keep and bear arms. This bold initiative signals a dramatic shift from years of regulatory assault on gun rights and represents the Trump administration’s commitment to treating the Second Amendment with the same respect as other constitutional freedoms.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi will personally chair the task force, making it crystal clear this isn’t just window dressing but a serious effort backed by the full weight of the DOJ. The task force will include representatives from all relevant DOJ offices and agencies including the ATF and FBI—the very agencies that, under previous administrations, were often weaponized against law-abiding gun owners.
Immediate Action: Ending the War on Gun Dealers
The task force isn’t wasting any time. As its first order of business, the ATF has already repealed Biden’s infamous “zero tolerance” policy toward federally licensed firearms dealers—a policy that effectively treated minor paperwork errors the same as serious violations. Under the previous administration, gun shops were being shuttered for trivial clerical mistakes, destroying livelihoods and restricting Americans’ access to firearms.
“The prior administration’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy unfairly targeted law-abiding gun owners and created an undue burden on Americans seeking to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms—it ends today.” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
Acting ATF Director Kash Patel, who’s been making waves since taking over the bureau, emphasized that the agency will adopt a more balanced approach to regulation that respects constitutional rights while still maintaining public safety. This is a refreshing change from the adversarial stance the ATF has taken toward the firearms community in recent years, where it seemed the agency’s primary goal was finding new ways to criminalize law-abiding citizens.
Targeting Biden’s Most Egregious Gun Control Rules
The task force has identified two particularly problematic Biden-era regulations for immediate review: the “stabilizing brace rule” and the redefinition of who’s “engaged in the business” of selling firearms. Both rules were transparent attempts to expand federal gun control without congressional approval. The stabilizing brace rule suddenly reclassified millions of pistols as illegal short-barreled rifles overnight, potentially turning countless gun owners into felons with the stroke of a pen.
“For too long, the Second Amendment, which establishes the fundamental individual right of Americans to keep and bear arms, has been treated as a second-class right. No more.” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
Similarly, the “engaged in the business” rule expanded the definition of firearms dealers to potentially include casual collectors and hobbyists, subjecting them to the same licensing requirements as full-time gun shops. These rules weren’t just burdensome—they were blatant attempts to reduce gun ownership through bureaucratic intimidation. The task force’s promise to review and revise these regulations represents a significant win for the firearms community.
A Fundamental Shift in Approach to Constitutional Rights
What makes this task force truly remarkable is the fundamental shift it represents. Rather than seeing the Second Amendment as a problem to be managed or restricted, the DOJ is acknowledging it as a fundamental constitutional right deserving of active protection. This aligns perfectly with President Trump’s view that the Second Amendment serves as a foundational safeguard for all other American liberties.
“[t]he Second Amendment is an indispensable safeguard of security and liberty, because it is foundational to maintaining all other rights held by Americans.” said President Trump.
The task force will also collaborate with gun rights organizations, manufacturers, and legal experts to ensure that federal policies are aligned with constitutional principles. This collaborative approach stands in stark contrast to the previous administration’s practice of developing gun control policies in consultation with anti-gun groups while excluding industry stakeholders. The message is clear: the days of the federal government treating gun owners as potential criminals rather than responsible citizens exercising their constitutional rights are over.
