President Trump’s Justice Department just struck down a Biden-era “zero tolerance” policy that had shuttered hundreds of gun stores across America for trivial paperwork errors, marking a decisive victory for Second Amendment rights.
Key Takeaways
- The Trump administration has revoked Biden’s “zero tolerance” policy that led to the highest number of gun store closures in 16 years
- Under Biden, over 300 federally licensed firearm dealers were investigated and many lost their businesses over minor clerical errors
- Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Civil Rights Division, is now treating Second Amendment rights as a critical civil rights issue
- The Justice Department has launched investigations into local authorities that may be violating citizens’ gun rights
- This policy change is part of a broader administration effort to protect constitutional gun ownership rights
Biden’s War on Gun Retailers Ends
The Department of Justice under President Trump has officially ended the Biden administration’s controversial “zero tolerance” policy targeting federally licensed firearm dealers (FFLs). This policy, implemented during Biden’s presidency, had resulted in a 16-year high in license revocations and store closures across America. Gun shop owners frequently lost their businesses—and their livelihoods—due to minor paperwork errors rather than substantive violations, revealing the policy’s true purpose of restricting firearm access through regulatory overreach rather than legitimate law enforcement concerns.
“For years, the Zero Tolerance Policy has been a tool of political retribution—targeting gun stores and Americans who were simply trying to exercise their rights. We applaud President Trump, Attorney General Bondi, and Director Kash Patel for listening to gun owners and taking action to repeal this abusive policy. This is what pro-gun leadership looks like,” said Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America.
The policy change allows federally licensed gun retailers to operate without the constant fear of arbitrary investigations and punitive actions based on minor administrative errors. During Biden’s administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was effectively weaponized as a mechanism for gun control, with over 300 law-abiding FFL holders subjected to raids and investigations that often ended in business closures. This represents a critical shift in federal approach—from regulatory harassment to supporting lawful business operations.
Real American Lives Affected
Behind the statistics of license revocations are real people whose livelihoods were destroyed by Biden’s policy. Tennessee gun store owner J.C. Harrison was among the hundreds who lost everything due to minor clerical errors. The human toll of the “zero tolerance” policy reveals its true nature as an assault on constitutional rights through bureaucratic means. For many small business owners in the firearms industry, these revocations represented not just the loss of a business but the elimination of their family’s primary source of income.
“This was an attack on the Second Amendment through the back door. My wife and I, this was our sole income, and it’s not anymore,” Said J.C. Harrison, Tennessee gun store owner.
The revocation of the policy stands as a critical step in repairing the damage done to the firearms industry and ensuring that Americans maintain access to their constitutional right to keep and bear arms. It also demonstrates the administration’s commitment to rolling back regulatory overreach that had become a hallmark of Biden’s approach to governance. By removing this punitive policy, the Trump Justice Department has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting small businesses and constitutional rights simultaneously.
Second Amendment as a Civil Rights Issue
Under the leadership of Harmeet Dhillon, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has taken the groundbreaking step of elevating Second Amendment protections to a civil rights priority. This fundamental shift in perspective recognizes that gun ownership rights deserve the same level of federal protection as other constitutional guarantees. The department has already begun investigating local authorities suspected of infringing on citizens’ gun rights, including an examination of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for excessive delays in issuing concealed carry permits.
“The Second Amendment is one of the constitutional rights we are committed to defending. We’re adding that to our analysis where states are violating constitutional rights,” said Harmeet Dhillon, Head of the Civil Rights Division.
This policy reversal is part of a broader Trump administration initiative to protect Second Amendment rights. The administration has already abolished the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which gun rights advocates viewed as a vehicle for advancing gun control measures. By treating firearms rights as civil rights issues, the Justice Department has established a framework for challenging state and local restrictions that infringe on constitutional protections. This approach signals a significant departure from the previous administration’s efforts to limit gun ownership through regulatory pressure.
