A federal judge has indeed overturned the ATF’s ban on forced reset triggers (FRTs). On July 23, 2024, Judge Reed O’Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a summary judgment vacating the ATF’s ruling that classified FRTs as machine guns.
The ATF had previously classified FRTs as machine guns under federal law, arguing that these devices allowed firearms to fire multiple rounds with a single trigger function. This classification led to the ATF banning the sale, possession, and use of FRTs, and even seizing these devices from manufacturers, resellers, and individual owners.
However, the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) challenged this classification, arguing that FRTs do not meet the statutory definition of a machine gun. According to federal law, a machine gun is defined as any weapon that can shoot more than one shot automatically, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The plaintiffs argued that FRTs function differently, as they mechanically reset the trigger after each shot, requiring the shooter to pull the trigger again for each round fired.
Judge O’Connor agreed with the plaintiffs, stating that the ATF had overstepped its authority by expanding the definition of a machine gun to include FRTs. He ruled that the ATF’s classification was unlawful and enjoined the agency from taking any civil or criminal action against individuals or entities possessing these devices. Additionally, the judge ordered the ATF to return any seized FRTs within 30 days and to issue remedial letters correcting their previous warnings to FRT owners.
This ruling is a significant victory for gun rights advocates, who have argued that the ATF’s actions were an overreach of executive authority. The decision also highlights ongoing debates over the interpretation of federal firearms laws and the balance between regulatory enforcement and individual rights.
The Department of Justice is expected to appeal the ruling to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which could potentially put the district court’s decision on hold while the appeals process continues.
Sources:
bearingarms.com/camedwards/2024/07/24/federal-judge-nixes-atf-rule-on-forced-reset-trigger-n1225715
nationalgunrights.org/resources/news/supreme-court-ruling-on-rapid-fire-devices-due-any-day-now/
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