All too often, supporters of the Second Amendment have been disappointed by Republicans. To be sure, they’re far better than Democrats, who, having embraced Communism and Islamism, are about as bad on individual liberty issues as it gets. But Republicans have consistently failed to vote for liberty, even when they had complete control of Congress and the White House. Issues like national concealed carry reciprocity, delisting suppressors, national concealed carry, repealing the National Firearms Act, reigning in the ATF, and the DOJ’s failure to stand up for individual rights among them.
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But with the second Trump Administration, real and historic progress has been made.
Perhaps the most consequential disclosure in the conversation [with Tom Gresham on Gun Talk Radio] was Blanche’s confirmation that the Department of Justice is “days away” from releasing a sweeping package of new firearms regulations. He stated clearly that the changes have already been approved “by the president on down” and that the release has been in preparation since the earliest days of the administration.
Blanche recognizes that policies can be immediately reversed by an anti-liberty/gun administration, but regulations have to go through a formal rule-making process and if done properly, can be defended in federal court. It would be better for such things to be done through legislation, but Republicans can’t even pass the SAVE Act with 80/20% public demand, so legislating gun regulations is essentially impossible.
The DOJ’s new chief counsel for the ATF is a former Clarence Thomas law clerk, and is known as the only serious pro-Second Amendment law professor in America.
Graphic: Glock 17, Author.
Blanche’s most candid political observation was his characterization of how Republican administrations have historically approached gun rights — making modest gains that are then dramatically reversed when Democrats return to power.
“Going back to the Reagan administration, the gun industry takes two steps forward. And then a Democrat comes in and takes us eight steps back,” he said. “We’re not going to take two steps forward. We’re going to go forward a mile.”
This framing reveals the core anxiety driving the administration’s approach. It is not enough to win politically. The goal is to make the wins structurally difficult to undo. That is why the emphasis is on regulatory change rather than executive action, on institutional hiring rather than temporary task forces, and on Supreme Court litigation rather than administrative guidance.
It’s clear this administration is explicitly trying to break a cycle that gun rights advocates have found deeply demoralizing. Whether they succeed will depend heavily on how durable their regulatory work proves to be in federal courts — and whether the Supreme Court’s current composition delivers favorable rulings on Second Amendment cases
The ATF is being redirected, and inconsequential FFL dealer paperwork errors will no longer be prosecuted. The DOJ, for the first time, has a dedicated office in the Civil Rights Division for upholding gun rights, which is dedicated to aggressively prosecuting violations and to upholding the Second Amendment. Blanche is also dedicated to protecting specific guns:
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Graphic: AR-15, Author.
Blanche made it clear that federal regulations restricting the AR-15 or similar semi-automatic rifles based on sporting-use classifications are likely to be targeted in the forthcoming regulatory package. This would be one of the most consequential changes the administration could make and would almost certainly trigger immediate legal challenges from gun control organizations and state attorneys general.
Robert Cekada, the newly confirmed ATF Director, is also saying the right things:
Director Cekada began by affirming ATF’s commitment “to protecting and preserving” the right to keep and bear arms. The agency, he said, has “entered a new era of reform to rebuild trust with the industry, federal firearms licensees, lawful gun owners, and the public while still prioritizing our efforts on public safety.” Actions taken towards this goal include revoking the zero-tolerance compliance policy and replacing it with “a new policy that emphasizes fairness and transparency while recognizing that FFLs are often the first line of defense against gun crime.”
Cekada said he was dedicated to rebuilding trust between Americans and the ATF. This is helpful:
Asked by Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) how he interpreted the Second Amendment, Cekada referred to his confirmation hearing where he expressed how much he and his agency respect the Second Amendment and the Constitution. The founders intended the Second Amendment to give citizens the ability to defend themselves because at the time, “the citizenry did not have a guarantee that the government would protect them, and they wanted the opportunity to protect themselves against a tyrannical government.” Crane replied, “I just want to make sure we’re on the same page on that.”
This administration isn’t perfect on gun issues, but they’re far better than any previous administration. They certainly deserve some praise, but Americans understand they must be eternally watchful. That’s why we have the Second Amendment.
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Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
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