DOJ Revokes ‘Zero Tolerance’ Gun Regulations
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the policy had ‘unfairly targeted responsible gun owners.’
On Monday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its decision to revoke a “zero tolerance” policy that permitted authorities to cancel the licenses of gun dealers who did not perform background checks.
The DOJ has announced it will dismantle the policy and will also review two additional regulations: one focusing on the reclassification of certain firearms as short-barreled rifles, and another concerning what constitutes “engaging in the business” of selling firearms.
According to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the policy enacted by the Biden administration in 2021 had “unfairly targeted law-abiding gun owners” and imposed “an undue burden on Americans aiming to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms.”
Acting ATF Director Kash Patel, who also serves as the FBI director, indicated that the ATF will collaborate with gun rights organizations, industry leaders, and legal authorities to ensure that the policies safeguard Second Amendment rights.
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The gun control advocacy group Brady denounced the DOJ’s decision. Its president, Kris Brown, expressed concerns that the repeal of the policy could lead to a rise in violent crimes.
Brown also charged the Trump administration with prioritizing the gun industry over public safety, stating that the repeal “undermines years of efforts to combat illegal firearms trafficking.”
The Epoch Times reached out to both the DOJ and the White House for comments but did not receive any responses by the time of publication.
The firearms industry received the DOJ’s decision to repeal the policy positively. Gun dealers have previously argued that they risk losing their federal firearms licenses over minor clerical mistakes on ATF forms due to this policy.
Lawrence G. Keane, the senior vice president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association representing the firearms industry, commended the Trump administration’s decision to eliminate the policy.
Gun Owners of America (GOA), an organization advocating for Second Amendment rights, described the repeal of the policy as “a significant milestone” towards restoring Americans’ rights to possess firearms.
Michael Clements contributed to this report.
