Justice Department Moves to Gut Gun Controls Days After Trump Assassination Attempt

The Justice Department, under Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, announced a sweeping rollback of gun control regulations mere days after a gunman attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The move marks the largest set of regulatory changes by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in 15 years combined.

Blanche defended the rollbacks at a Wednesday press conference, insisting the changes “cut unnecessary red tape” and replace “confusion with clear, straightforward language.” He framed the effort as a win for “everyday Americans” who supposedly shouldn’t need “a law degree just to understand their rights.” But the timing and scope of these changes raise serious questions about the administration’s priorities.

Among the 34 proposed new rules, the ATF is narrowing the definition of who must hold a federal firearms license, easing compliance burdens on gun sellers. Newly confirmed ATF Director Robert Cekada also announced the formal rescission of a 2023 rule restricting pistol braces—attachments that allow pistols to be fired like rifles. That rule had been struck down in federal court, but its removal signals a broader deregulatory agenda.

The Biden administration had argued that pistol braces effectively convert pistols into barreled rifles, which are subject to stricter regulation. Undoing these rules risks expanding access to more dangerous weapons configurations.

When pressed about whether the Justice Department would stop revoking gun rights from non-violent offenders, including those with marijuana or drug convictions, Blanche said the administration is committed to reversing such policies—though he acknowledged it won’t happen overnight.

This deregulation push follows a 2025 executive order from Trump demanding a review of Biden-era gun regulations and promising to “eliminate all infringements on Americans’ Second Amendment rights.” Trump claimed Biden’s policies led to a six-fold increase in enforcement actions against licensed gun sellers, who faced license revocations for failing to conduct background checks or selling firearms unlawfully.

Gun industry leaders have applauded the Justice Department’s new direction, while critics warn it dangerously undermines public safety. The irony is stark: Trump’s administration is loosening gun laws just days after an armed attack targeting the former president himself.

Cole Tomas Allen, the alleged gunman, breached security with legally owned firearms and expressed anti-Trump sentiment in a note to family. Yet the Justice Department insists the Second Amendment will “never be treated as a second-class right” under Trump’s watch.

This latest move exposes the administration’s prioritization of gun rights over gun safety, even in the face of recent violence. It also highlights a pattern of rolling back regulations designed to hold gun sellers accountable and protect communities from preventable harm.

As the debate over gun control intensifies, the Justice Department’s actions serve as a chilling reminder: deregulation can come at the cost of lives and security. The question remains—who really benefits when the rules get rewritten?