Second Amendment advocates are urging Donald Trump to take bold action against anti-gun policies established under the Biden administration. Key demands include abolishing the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, appointing a pro-Second Amendment ATF director, and limiting the ATF’s authority over firearms regulation.
Gun rights groups have criticized the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, calling it a tool for advancing gun control agendas. Lawrence Keane of the National Shooting Sports Foundation argued taxpayers shouldn’t fund efforts to undermine constitutionally protected rights. Trump has pledged to dismantle Biden-era restrictions, promising swift action if he returns to the White House.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is also under scrutiny for enforcing restrictive regulations. These include policies on short-barreled rifles and suppressors, requiring registration and special taxes under the National Firearms Act (NFA). Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) has proposed legislation to abolish the ATF and repeal the NFA, though success remains uncertain.
Mark Oliva of the NSSF emphasized the need for an ATF “course correction,” advocating for the agency to focus on prosecuting firearm traffickers and violent criminals instead of law-abiding gun owners. Pro-Second Amendment voices are also calling for Trump to nominate a gun-rights champion to lead the ATF.
A popular name among advocates is firearm entrepreneur Brandon Herrera, known as “The AK Guy.” Although Herrera supports abolishing the ATF, he acknowledged that disbanding the agency could shift regulatory powers to larger federal bodies like the FBI, potentially complicating gun owners’ freedoms. Alan Gottlieb of the Second Amendment Foundation warned that such a move could unintentionally empower an even larger bureaucracy.
As momentum builds for a major shake-up, Republicans are signaling optimism about advancing pro-gun reforms under a Trump administration. Whether legislative or executive efforts succeed, the fight for Second Amendment protections is likely to remain a key issue in 2024 and beyond.
