The Trump administration has legalized the sale of forced reset triggers—devices that mimic machine guns—igniting a national firestorm over gun safety and Second Amendment rights.
At a Glance
- DOJ settles lawsuit allowing forced reset triggers for semiautomatic rifles
- The decision ends an ATF ban, allowing the rapid-fire devices to be sold without background checks
- Gun control advocates warn the move effectively legalizes machine gun functionality
- Attorney General Pamela Bondi says it upholds Second Amendment rights
- The settlement compels ATF to return seized devices and halt enforcement actions
Legal Shift Sparks Controversy
In a seismic policy shift, the Trump administration has eased access to forced reset triggers, mechanical devices that dramatically increase the firing speed of semiautomatic rifles. The decision, handed down through a Department of Justice settlement, followed a lawsuit from the National Association for Gun Rights challenging the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ban.
The settlement ends federal enforcement against these rapid-fire accessories, which critics say effectively convert rifles into machine guns. While bump stocks were previously banned following the 2017 Las Vegas massacre, the forced reset trigger classification circumvents firearm definitions—thanks to a recent Supreme Court precedent.
Watch a report: Trump DOJ Settles Forced Reset Trigger Lawsuit.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi defended the move: “This Department of Justice believes that the 2nd Amendment is not a second-class right… this settlement will enhance public safety.” However, gun safety advocates strongly disagree. Vanessa Gonzalez of Giffords called it “an incredibly dangerous move,” warning, “Lives will be lost because of his actions.”
Gun Rights vs. Public Safety
The decision grants manufacturers like Rare Breed Triggers new leeway to resume business without regulatory interference—so long as they avoid developing similar devices for pistols. Under the settlement, the ATF must also return all seized forced reset triggers and halt any prosecution involving them.
Kris Brown of Brady United condemned the move as “a dangerous backroom deal” that “puts communities at immediate risk.” The clash underscores the increasingly polarized national debate: one side sees a constitutional victory, the other a threat to public safety.
While machine guns remain banned under federal law since 1986, the reclassification of these devices into a non-firearm category creates a significant loophole—raising fears that other high-speed shooting accessories may follow.
What Comes Next?
With federal enforcement stalled, the policy now shifts the battleground to the state level. Several states may pursue their own restrictions on forced reset triggers, setting the stage for further legal showdowns. Meanwhile, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are bracing for renewed pressure to legislate around semiautomatic enhancements.
Second Amendment groups are hailing the settlement as a long-overdue win, while gun control advocates brace for what they call a public safety nightmare. As the legal dust settles, this decision may become one of the most hotly debated gun policy actions of the 2024 election cycle—fueling a broader conflict over where constitutional rights end and public risk begins.
