DOJ and ATF repeal and revisit Biden era gun control regulations

The Justice Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives repealed and revisited several gun control regulations and enforcement practices previously implemented by the Biden administration.

Three key reforms announced include repealing the Federal Firearms Administrative Action Policy and Procedure, colloquially known as the “Zero Tolerance” policy; reviewing and revisiting the Biden regulatory framework surrounding stabilizing braces; and the definition of “engaged in the business” under firearms-dealing rules.

The Zero Tolerance policy was a DOJ strategy announced in 2021 under President Biden that aggressively targeted gun dealers for minor paperwork errors — creating fear and uncertainty across the firearms community.

The Justice Department announced Monday that this policy will be repealed, and Industry Operations inspections will no longer be held to these previously set guidelines.

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

FBI Director Kash Patel, who also is acting ATF director, called the three moves “a pivotal step toward restoring fairness and clarity in firearms regulation.”

He added that ATF is “committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure our policies are balanced, constitutional and protective of Americans’ Second Amendment rights.”

The DOJ and ATF said reviewing the Stabilizing Brace rule, which sought to reclassify certain firearms as short-barreled rifles, and revising the guidelines for determining who is considered “engaged in the business” of selling firearms, reiterates constitutional approaches to firearm regulations.

The agencies will conduct an in-depth review over the coming months and will engage in consultations with stakeholders, including gun-rights organizations, industry leaders and legal experts.

Second Amendment activist groups welcomed the news from the DOJ and ATF.

“Those rules were used by the Biden administration to harass and persecute firearms hobbyists and small-operation gun dealers unmercifully,” said Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. “We view this as one more step by the Donald Trump administration to right the numerous wrongs perpetuated by Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and their anti-gun cronies in an effort to erode the Second Amendment.”

Firearms Policy Coalition President Brandon Combs thanked Mr. Trump, Mr. Patel and Ms. Bondi on behalf of FPC members “for taking these important actions to protect constitutional rights and repeal the misguided ’Zero Tolerance Policy’ implemented by their predecessors.”

“Having been in the trenches for years fighting numerous Biden-era gun control initiatives, FPC has been a vocal advocate for these reforms, so we are encouraged by today’s announcement.”