Video Highlights
- Federal district judge vacates ATF's frame and receiver rule
- Judge rules that ATF exceeded its statutory jurisdiction
- Firearms Policy Coalition celebrates the ruling as a victory
- ATF's regulation of weapon parts kits lacks statutory support
- Court grants plaintiffs' and interveners' motions for summary judgment
- Judge Reed O'Connor's ruling decimates the ATF
Video Summary
In a monumental victory for gun owners, a federal district judge has vacated the ATF's frame and receiver rule. The ruling came after the judge concluded that the ATF had exceeded its statutory jurisdiction in attempting to regulate partially manufactured firearm components and related products. The judge's decision prevents the federal government from enforcing the rule.
The court agreed with the plaintiffs' argument that the final rule expands the ATF's authority over parts that may be readily converted into frames or receivers, which goes beyond the agency's congressionally limited authority. Additionally, the court found that the final rule unlawfully treats component parts of a weapon in the aggregate, such as weapon parts kits, as the equivalent of a firearm.
The judge's ruling highlights the precise wording of the Gun Control Act of 1968, which limits the ATF's authority to regulate only the frame or receiver of a firearm. The court found that the final rule attempts to regulate weapon parts kits, aggregations of parts that are designed to or may readily be completed assembled, restored, or otherwise converted to expel a projectile, without statutory support.
The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) and FPC Law, who argued against the ATF's rule, celebrated the court's decision as a victory against the agency's unlawful attacks on gun owners. They vowed to continue bringing cases to put a stop to what they see as the immoral and unconstitutional actions of the disarmament regime.
Supporters of FPC can join or donate to the organization to help further their cause. The court's ruling has effectively struck down the ATF's rule and restored the status quo that existed prior to the agency's issuance of the rule.
Judge Reed O'Connor's thorough and comprehensive ruling decimates the ATF's overreach, pointing out the agency's exceeding its statutory jurisdiction. The ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the Second Amendment rights of gun owners and holding government agencies accountable for their actions.
