The Trump administration is scrapping more than three dozen firearms regulations, abandoning a crackdown on illegal sales, restoring gun rights to some people with mental illness and loosening oversight of private weapons transactions.
The drastic retrenchment at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the federal agency responsible for enforcing the nation’s gun laws, was not entirely unexpected: President Trump campaigned as a champion of gun rights.
In the view of critics and even some A.T.F. veterans, the agency, in closely mirroring the demands made by gun owners and manufacturers to lighten their regulatory burden, is enacting changes at the expense of public safety. The moves, they worry, come as the bureau has already been weakened, with hundreds of its officials diverted to immigration enforcement.
scrapping more than three dozen firearms regulations
I can’t stand how journalists will write something like that and then not include an itemized list.
Yes, they give some examples, but I want the whole list without having to dig through the federal register myself.
It matters because some of it is bad, while some is neutral, and some is good.
I actually looked it up myself on the ATF’s website, which is actually really well set up.
https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/atf-launches-new-era-reform
There are only 4 rules that are being “scrapped”, and they aren’t even actually full rules being removed, just altered. 3 of them are to conform with court cases. The only 1 they are removing on their own is a rule that was meant to be temporary to inform people of a rule change back in the 90’s (making pistols only 21+). Since that change is 30 years old, now, it isnt new, so there’s no need to pretend it is.
There are only 4 rules that are being “scrapped”,
Given the massive gulf between that, and the 36 mentioned in the article, I have to wonder if you’re missing a chunk of data
They list all 36 things, but the majority of them are basically clerical updates, like removing the requirement for forms to be submitted in triplicate because copy machines (and scanners) exist.
Also, making bootleg vape cartridges get treated the same way as bootleg cigarettes.
Most of the changes (and I read through all of them) are mostly neutral updates that are more about clarifying policies and updating stuff thats outdated. There is some negative stuff, like adhering to the “gender ideology” executive order on forms.
Despite what republicans claim, Trump isnt really a gun rights guy. In fact, one of the rules being scrapped is his rule against bump stocks from his first term, because it was ruled against by the courts.
Yeah, The first sentence on the atf website says “ATF launched a new era of reform in 2025…” and the rest of the page is listing the “new era actions taken.”
It does say it was updated in May 2026, which is somewhat recent, but there’s nothing that indicates this page is listing everything they’re currently doing.
All changes will be in the federal register, so if there is anything missing from the page, you could find it in the register without much trouble.
Maybe he thinks there are too many Americans sharing the wealth?
He has tried to reduce the share of the poor and middle class, but this is way more efficient.
Kind of like an endlösung, but way more elegant to just have people kill each other.It’s 100% a concession to arms manufacturers.
We had regulations??
So many regulations. Moreso at the state and local level, where they vary wildly from place to place.
Whether the regulations make sense is another issue altogether.
We’re talking federally, though. Trump isn’t repealing any state regulations, right?
The feds aren’t directly repealing state laws. Though the Trump administration is actively trying to indirectly repeal state laws by getting them struck down in the courts. Just last week the DOJ filed suits against Virginia and California to try to overturn some of their restrictions. The DOJ sued Colorado back in May as well.
Its easier to buy a shotgun and a high capacity ar 15 than it is to buy a handgun in many states, because of regulations
Which is reasonable, given that most gun crime is committed with handguns.
Except there’s no practical reason for anyone to own an AR-15
That would explain it. Though, I think reasonable would be they’re equally regulated instead of one class being easier than others etc.
I think he’s deserving a demonstration of what he’s choosing to prioritize in the same way Charlie Kirk was shown. Please, someone, show him.
“restoring gun rights to some people with mental illness” is good actually. We should never tolerate the “othering” of folks by the state; especially when that state is the USA.
If you read the proposed change, basically it comes down to the fact that the ATF took the definition of “mentally defective” from other government sources, specifically, Veterans Affairs.
That definition includes people, for example, who are incapable of managing their own finances, but have no other indications of being a danger to themselves or others.
That is, ironically, an insane thing to say.
While I see your point, 60% of gun deaths are suicides. We absolutely need to do something and since universal healthcare is not happening with this administration, a gun ban might be the only thing that could help.
- We need to do something!
- ‘This’ is ‘something’
- Therefore, we must do ‘this’
I realize you attempted to justify it by hand-waving away a better alternative, but still, that logic is bullshit.
More like perfect is the enemy of the good.
And who are you to take away someone’s options if they want to opt out? Tell a health professional, and you’ll be jumping through so many hoops it’ll make you want to even more. It’s rather authoritarian of you to say people aren’t allowed to make the choice themselves. Besides, although free therapy would help, it wouldn’t eliminate suicide altogether.
I support euthanasia for people who choose it with a clear mind. We are talking about people who would not choose suicide if they were properly treated by and large.
It’s rich seeing all of the 2a, “it’s a mental health issue” people tripping over themselves to defend this shit.
I’m generally pro gun, but if you regularly hallucinate an 8 foot rabbit telling you the McDonalds drive through guy is a secret alien, you shouldn’t have a fucking gun.
