Justice Department deal ends a ban on an aftermarket trigger. Gun control advocates are alarmed
Share and Follow


WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration will allow the sale of forced-reset triggers, which make semiautomatic rifles fire more rapidly, with the federal government ending a long-standing ban as part of a settlement that also requires it to return seized devices.

The agreement announced Friday by the Justice Department resolves a series of cases over the aftermarket trigger that the government had previously argued qualify as machine guns under federal law. The settlement is a dramatic shift in Second Amendment policy under the Republican administration, which has signaled it may undo many of the regulations that the previous administration of Democratic President Joe Biden had fought to keep in place in an effort to curb gun violence.

“This Department of Justice believes that the 2nd Amendment is not a second-class right,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.

Gun control advocates said the settlement would worsen gun violence.

“The Trump administration has just effectively legalized machine guns. Lives will be lost because of his actions,” said Vanessa Gonzalez, vice president of government and political affairs at GIFFORDS, a gun control group.

There had been several legal battles over forced-reset triggers, which replace the typical trigger on an AR-15-style rifle. The government for years had argued they are essentially illegal machine gun conversion devices because constant finger pressure on the triggers will keep a rifle firing essentially like an automatic.

The deal announced Friday was between the Justice Department and Rare Breed Triggers, which was previously represented by David Warrington, Trump’s current White House counsel. Rare Breed Triggers argued that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was wrong in its classification and ignored demands to stop selling the triggers before being sued by the Biden administration.

“This victory is a landmark moment in the fight against unchecked government overreach,” Lawrence DeMonico, the group’s president, said in a statement. “The ATF and DOJ tried to silence and bury us not because we broke the law, but because I refused to bend to the will of a tyrannical administration.”

Under the settlement, Rare Breed Triggers has agreed not to develop such devices to be used on handguns, according to the Justice Department. The settlement requires the ATF to return triggers that it had seized or that owners had voluntarily surrendered to the government.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Trump shares adorable moment with kids visiting Oval Office

Heartwarming Oval Office Visit: Trump Engages with Young Visitors

President Donald Trump took a moment from his busy schedule in the…
Autopsy reveals the truth about newlyweds found dead in their car

Autopsy Uncovers Crucial Details in Tragic Newlywed Car Deaths

The tragic deaths of a Wisconsin couple found in a car in…
Car used by missing California girl's mom on road trip had license plates swapped to 'avoid detection'

Shocking Twist: Melodee Buzzard’s Mother Freed Amid Allegations of Officer Imprisonment and Missing Daughter Breakthrough

The mother of a 9-year-old girl considered “at-risk” reportedly informed a man…
Video shows woman throwing dog over University Veterinary Center clinic fence in plastic bag in Anaheim, California

Shocking Video: Woman Caught on Camera Tossing Dog in Plastic Bag Over Anaheim Vet Clinic Fence

In Anaheim, California, authorities have launched an investigation following a disturbing incident…
Bryan Kohberger fights $27K restitution for victims’ families while taking money behind bars

Jailhouse Fortune: Court Orders Bryan Kohberger to Compensate Victims’ Families

In a recent disclosure by an Idaho court, it was unveiled that…
‘Protector’ father of nine slain after minor crash spirals into deadly road rage clash

Tragic Road Rage Incident Claims Life of Devoted Father of Nine Following Minor Collision

A 49-year-old father tragically lost his life in a suspected road-rage incident…
'We're here to help': Bethel Church launches ‘SNAP Store’ to support families waiting on benefits

Bethel Church Launches Innovative ‘SNAP Store’ to Aid Families Awaiting Benefits

“It’s free,” announced Pastor Rudolph McKissick Jr. “You don’t need to be…
Luigi Mangione gains prominence at federal jail where guards like him and inmates dub him 'ambassador': report

Mangione’s Lawyers Claim Police Invented Mother’s Statement in CEO Murder Inquiry

Luigi Mangione’s legal team is pressing prosecutors to confirm whether his mother…