President Trump’s Justice Department has ended Biden’s aggressive “zero tolerance” policy that shut down hundreds of gun stores for minor paperwork errors, marking a significant victory for Second Amendment rights across America.
Key Takeaways
- The Trump administration has officially rescinded Biden’s “zero tolerance” policy that led to the highest number of gun store closures in 16 years
- Under Biden, over 300 federally licensed firearm dealers were investigated and many lost their businesses due to minor clerical errors
- The Justice Department under Trump is now treating Second Amendment rights as civil rights issues requiring federal protection
- Gun Owners of America has praised the policy reversal as a crucial step in protecting constitutional rights
- Trump’s DOJ has also launched investigations into local jurisdictions suspected of violating Second Amendment rights
Biden’s War on Gun Stores Officially Ended
In a decisive move supporting gun rights, the Department of Justice under President Trump has officially terminated the Biden administration’s controversial “zero tolerance” policy that targeted federally licensed firearm dealers. The policy, which was implemented during Biden’s term, allowed the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to revoke licenses for even minor administrative errors, resulting in hundreds of gun stores being forced to close. This reversal represents a significant shift in federal policy toward protecting rather than restricting Second Amendment rights.
“For years, the Zero Tolerance Policy has been a tool of political retribution—targeting gun stores and Americans who were simply trying to exercise their rights,” stated Gun Owners of America (GOA) Senior Vice President Erich Pratt. “We applaud President Trump, Attorney General Bondi, and Director Kash Patel for listening to gun owners and taking action to repeal this abusive policy. This is what pro-gun leadership looks like.”
How Biden Used the ATF as a Weapon Against Gun Stores
The now-rescinded policy led to a 16-year high in license revocations for Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders. Under Biden’s directive, the ATF targeted over 300 law-abiding gun store owners, subjecting them to raids and investigations for infractions as minor as clerical errors in paperwork. The aggressive enforcement crushed small businesses across the country, many of which were family-owned establishments that had operated without incident for years. For these gun store owners, the policy represented not just government overreach but a direct attack on their livelihoods.
“This was an attack on the Second Amendment through the back door,” he said. “My wife and I, this was our sole income, and it’s not anymore.”
The experience of Tennessee store owner J.C. Harrison exemplifies the devastating impact of Biden’s policy. Harrison, like many others, lost his family’s sole source of income when his license was revoked over minor record-keeping issues. The revocations often occurred with little warning and offered virtually no pathway for stores to remedy issues before losing their licenses. This heavy-handed approach effectively circumvented legislative channels for gun control by administratively eliminating legal gun sellers through bureaucratic means.
Trump Administration’s Broader Second Amendment Protection Strategy
The Justice Department’s reversal of the “zero tolerance” policy is just one part of President Trump’s comprehensive approach to protecting Second Amendment rights. The administration has also abolished the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which many Second Amendment advocates viewed as a vehicle for implementing gun control measures. Additionally, under the leadership of Harmeet Dhillon in the Civil Rights Division, the DOJ is now approaching gun rights as fundamental civil rights issues deserving federal protection.
“The Second Amendment is one of the constitutional rights we are committed to defending,” Dhillon said. “We’re adding that to our analysis where states are violating constitutional rights.”
This shift in perspective has already led to tangible actions, including a new investigation into the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department over alleged delays in issuing concealed carry permits. The probe examines whether local officials are intentionally obstructing citizens’ constitutional right to bear arms through administrative delays and arbitrary denials. The investigation signals a broader commitment from the Trump administration to challenge local and state governments that attempt to restrict gun ownership through bureaucratic means.
