The Justice Department announced a major shift Wednesday (April 29), moving to roll back and modify more than 30 federal gun regulations. The changes follow pressure from Second Amendment supporters in President Donald Trump’s base and come as the U.S. Senate confirmed Robert Cekada as the new director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Among the most notable changes is the proposed repeal of a 2024 rule created under President Joe Biden that required more firearms dealers to run background checks at gun shows and other non-store locations. The rule, aimed at addressing the so-called “gun show loophole,” was challenged in court by gun rights groups and several Republican-led states, who argued that it violated the Second Amendment and exceeded presidential authority.
The Justice Department’s new approach would remove these requirements, with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stating the new slate is “the most comprehensive regulatory reform package in the history” of the ATF. Blanche said the changes bring regulations in line with Supreme Court precedents and reduce unnecessary burdens for firearms sellers and lawful gun owners. Blanche also emphasized how previous regulations did not reflect the realities of the firearms business or public safety.
Gun control advocates, including John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, sharply criticized the move. Feinblatt said, “Four days after the nation watched gunfire break out at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the Trump administration’s answer is to gut commonsense gun safety laws and sabotage the only federal agency dedicated to keeping guns out of criminal hands.”
The regulatory changes were signed shortly after Cekada’s confirmation by the Senate. Cekada, who has been with the ATF since 2005 and served as deputy director for the past year, becomes only the third person to be confirmed as ATF director since the position became Senate-confirmable in 2006. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have struggled to confirm ATF nominees due to the politically charged nature of the agency’s work.
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