On October 11, 2025, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon launched a fierce defense of her boss against explosive allegations from a major gun rights organization, calling their demand to fire Pam Bondi based on “fake news” and fundamental misunderstandings of federal court proceedings.
Dhillon issued a detailed rebuttal defending Bondi as “the most pro-2A AG in US history” on Twitter/X.
Our @AGPamBondi is the most pro-2A AG in US history, and this is a very bad take on many levels. According to the video, the supposed “straw that broke the camel’s back” is that DOJ asked a federal court to require pro-2A groups to submit lists of their members. That is false. https://t.co/RKBtNsj6nr
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) October 11, 2025
As AmmoLand previously reported, NAGR launched their campaign after a federal court ordered the Second Amendment Foundation and Firearms Policy Coalition to provide verified membership lists to the government in the Reese v. ATF case. The October 10, 2025 announcement represented a dramatic escalation, with NAGR President Dudley Brown declaring Bondi had “failed the Second Amendment” and must be removed immediately.
Dhillon wasted no time addressing what she called “a very bad take on many levels.” In a comprehensive Twitter thread posted October 13, she attempted to counter NAGR’s central accusation. “According to the video, the supposed ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’ is that DOJ asked a federal court to require pro-2A groups to submit lists of their members. That is false,” Dhillon stated.
The Assistant Attorney General explained the purported sequence of events following the Fifth Circuit’s ruling that federal handgun purchase bans for adults under 21 violated the Second Amendment. After Bondi declined to further appeal that pro-gun rights decision, the remaining dispute centered on the scope of the injunction. “After a hard-fought win for the President on nationwide injunctions in Trump v. CASA, DOJ obviously could not agree to a nationwide injunction in any other case,” Dhillon explained, noting this would create an effective workaround to a major Trump administration legal victory.
Here’s what actually happened: After the 5th Circuit held that the federal ban on FFL handgun sales to those under 21 violated the #2A, the AG declined to further appeal that ruling. The remaining issue was the scope of the injunction. After a hard-fought win for the President on…
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) October 11, 2025
Instead, Dhillon clarified that DOJ agreed to an injunction throughout the Fifth Circuit and for “any known members of the plaintiff organizations located anywhere else in the country.” The controversial membership list requirement came not from the DOJ’s request but from the court itself. “In response, the court ordered something DOJ did not ask for, it ordered the plaintiffs to submit members lists,” she wrote.
Dhillon revealed that on Friday following the controversial order, DOJ and the plaintiffs submitted a joint filing asking the court to correct what she called “that misstep.” She emphasized this collaborative effort as evidence of DOJ’s commitment to protecting both Second Amendment rights and First Amendment freedoms of association.
3/ … In the 5th Circuit case, DOJ agreed to an injunction throughout the 5th Circuit, as well as an injunction for any known members of the plaintiff organizations located anywhere else in the country. In response, the court ordered something DOJ did not ask for—it ordered the…
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) October 11, 2025
The Assistant Attorney General also challenged NAGR’s accusation that Bondi advocated for “lifetime gun bans for nonviolent offenses.” “That’s not a fair characterization of the DOJ position,” Dhillon countered. She explained that while DOJ has defended existing federal law under 18 U.S.C. 922(g), the department simultaneously established a rights restoration process for nonviolent felons.
4/The video also accuses @AGPamBondi of advocating for “lifetime gun bans for nonviolent offenses.” That’s not a fair characterization of the @TheJusticeDept position. DOJ has generally defended 18 U.S.C. 922(g) while also simultaneously establishing a rights-restoration process…
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) October 11, 2025
“The video is filled with inaccuracies in what it says about the history and procedural posture of specific cases, but the biggest problem is what the video doesn’t say,” Dhillon continued. She then detailed an extensive list of pro-Second Amendment actions under Bondi’s leadership.
5/ The video is filled with inaccuracies in what it says about the history and procedural posture of specific cases, but the biggest problem is what the video doesn’t say. Every day, under @AGPamBondi’s leadership, DOJ persuades courts to tackle generational-level 2A issues and…
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) October 11, 2025
In Wolford v. Lopez, Bondi asked the Supreme Court to review Hawaii’s near-complete ban on public carry, and the Court granted review. DOJ asked the Seventh Circuit to invalidate bans on AR-15s and magazines holding more than 10 rounds. “I was proud to argue that case personally, and I am proud that we have argued the same position in the Third Circuit. I will always stand up in court for the Second Amendment,” Dhillon declared.
6/ In Wolford v. Lopez, the Attorney General asked the Supreme Court to take up Hawaii’s near-complete ban on public carry, and the Court granted review.
In the Seventh Circuit, we asked the court to invalidate a ban on AR-15s and 10+ capacity magazines. I was proud to argue…— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) October 11, 2025
At Bondi’s direction, DOJ filed what Dhillon called a “first-of-its-kind lawsuit” challenging Los Angeles County’s pattern of infringing Second Amendment rights by imposing lengthy delays of one to two years in processing concealed carry permit applications.
7/ At the Attorney General’s direction, we @CivilRights recently filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit challenging Los Angeles County’s pattern or practice of infringing the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens seeking concealed carry weapons permits by imposing lengthy…
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) October 11, 2025
The Attorney General’s Second Amendment Enforcement Task Force has settled, declined to appeal, or changed positions from Biden administration stances “to better protect law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights,” according to Dhillon. The department now recognizes that suppressors fall within Second Amendment protections.
8/ The Attorney General’s Second Amendment Enforcement Task Force has settled, declined to appeal, or changed positions in appropriate cases from the Biden Administration to better protect law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights. The Department has recognized, for example,…
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) October 11, 2025
The Task Force also launched historic regulatory action under 18 U.S.C. 925(c) allowing people with distant criminal histories who no longer pose public safety threats to apply for firearm rights restoration under federal law. “This will protect public safety while also ensuring that the federal government does not come close to the line of burdening Second Amendment rights. Historic,” Dhillon emphasized.
9/ The Task Force has also taken historic action to begin a regulatory process under 18 USC § 925(c) that will, for the first time in decades, allow persons who have a criminal history in the distant past but who no longer pose a threat to public safety to apply to have their…
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) October 11, 2025
She detailed ATF reforms, including revoking the zero-tolerance policy that threatened gun dealers over paperwork violations, initiating the process to revoke the “engaged in the business” rule targeting private firearm sales, and inviting Federal Firearm Licensees revoked under Biden-era policies to reapply under new criteria.
11/ ATF has revoked its zero-tolerance policy that attempted to put gun dealers out of business for paperwork violations.
ATF is also in the process of revoking the prior administration’s “engaged in the business” rule, which tried to ban private (non-FFL) firearm sales.
ATF…— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) October 11, 2025
Dhillon concluded with a personal appeal rooted in her own advocacy background. “I am a gun owner and a long-time advocate for Second Amendment Rights. I have fought in private practice for the broadest possible scope of federal and state gun rights. And I am VERY proud of the work this DOJ and especially my boss Pam Bondi have put in towards securing these fundamental rights. No one has fought harder for them or has a better track record.”
12/ In sum:
I am a gun owner and a long-time advocate for Second Amendment Rights. I have fought in private practice for the broadest possible scope of federal and state gun rights. And I am VERY proud of the work this @TheJusticeDept and especially my boss @AGPamBondi have put…
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) October 11, 2025
She urged supporters to examine the actual record rather than accepting what she characterized as false criticisms. “The critics of this administration want nothing more than to see this type of infighting. Reject it and rally behind our strong, principled AG as she continues to do a stellar job on gun rights issues,” Dhillon concluded.
The exchange reveals deep divisions within gun rights advocacy circles over how to evaluate the Trump administration’s Justice Department performance on Second Amendment issues, with hardline organizations like NAGR demanding immediate action while DOJ officials point to procedural constraints and ongoing reform efforts.
Whether gun owners ultimately side with NAGR’s demands for immediate action or accept Dhillon’s arguments about measured progress and procedural constraints will determine the political pressure Bondi faces in her remaining time as Attorney General.
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About José Niño
José Niño is a freelance writer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can contact him via Facebook and X/Twitter. Subscribe to his Substack newsletter by visiting “Jose Nino Unfiltered” on Substack.com.
