Washington, DC – President Trump made history when he signed the first executive order ever directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to abolish gun control where possible. He promised gun owners he’d be the most pro-Second Amendment president in history — and in many ways, he’s delivered.
But here’s the problem: the DOJ under Attorney General Pam Bondi isn’t always following his lead. Too often, DOJ lawyers and bureaucrats are clinging to old Biden-era talking points instead of carrying out Trump’s pro-gun agenda. That leaves gun owners — especially younger ones — still fighting battles that should already be won.
The Wins We Can’t Ignore
Let’s give credit where it’s due. Under Trump, we’ve seen big pro-gun moves that would’ve been unthinkable under Obama or Biden:
- Second Amendment Task Force: A dedicated unit to fight back against government overreach.
- Protecting the Gun Industry: Treasury stopped banks from blacklisting firearm companies under “Operation Chokepoint.”
- Ending Anti-Gun Research Grants: No more taxpayer-funded propaganda disguised as “gun violence studies.”
- Defending Against Assault Weapons Bans: DOJ lawyers even argued against Illinois’ unconstitutional law in court.
- Civil Rights Investigations: DOJ launched probes into anti-gun sheriffs who deliberately stalled or priced out concealed carry permits.
And just recently, DOJ chose not to appeal the Reese v. ATF victory — a huge case where the Fifth Circuit struck down the federal ban on licensed dealers selling handguns to adults under 21. That was the right call, and it freed up 18–20-year-olds in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi to legally buy handguns.
The Bad Decisions
But here’s the flip side. After letting the Reese win stand, DOJ then tried to limit the victory only to the people who sued — shutting out thousands of other law-abiding young adults. That’s the same type of stall tactic we’d expect from Biden’s DOJ, not Trump’s.
The same goes for the Peterson suppressor case. DOJ admitted suppressors are protected under the Second Amendment but still defended the outdated National Firearms Act’s ridiculous registration scheme. That law punishes peaceful gun owners while doing nothing to stop criminals.
DOJ has also dragged its feet on cleaning up ATF abuses, like crazy testing standards and surveillance programs that could easily become backdoor gun registries. And in some cases, DOJ lawyers are still defending Biden-era arguments in court — arguments that Trump himself has already rejected.
Why This Matters
The White House and DOJ can’t be working at cross-purposes. Every time DOJ fights against pro-gun lawsuits or stalls a ruling, it wastes time, money, and momentum. That gives anti-gun states like California more room to keep crushing rights.
President Trump promised gun owners that his administration would protect the Second Amendment. But if his DOJ keeps echoing Biden’s playbook, we risk losing permanent victories that could protect gun rights long after Trump leaves office.
What Gun Owners Should Do
This isn’t the time to sit back. GOA is right: we need to push harder. That means making your voice heard — and making sure DOJ lines up with the President’s agenda instead of undermining it.
Call the White House comment line at (202) 456-1111 and demand that DOJ stop making anti-gun arguments in court and start working with GOA to secure permanent victories.
Our rights don’t enforce themselves. Every phone call, every message, every ounce of pressure matters. Because if the DOJ won’t fight for the Second Amendment, then it’s up to us to make sure they do.
Bottom line: President Trump has proven he’s the strongest pro-gun president we’ve had in generations. But unless the DOJ follows his orders and stops playing defense for Biden-era policies, we’ll keep running into roadblocks. Gun owners must stay engaged, loud, and relentless.
Freedom is worth fighting for — and it’s worth protecting permanently.
DOJ Moves to Join Fight Against Illinois’s Assault Weapon Bans
