In a controversial move, the Trump administration has agreed to permit the sale and ownership of forced-reset triggers—devices that can enable semiautomatic rifles to fire at speeds comparable to machine guns. The decision follows a settlement announced Friday by the Department of Justice (DOJ), ending lawsuits originally filed under former President Joe Biden, who had moved to ban the devices.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi defended the settlement, emphasizing Second Amendment rights. “This Department of Justice believes that the 2nd Amendment is not a second-class right,” Bondi stated, adding that the agreement ends unnecessary litigation while promoting public safety.
Forced-reset triggers, previously determined by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to fall under the National Firearms Act as illegal machine guns, were banned during the Biden administration. A key lawsuit filed by the DOJ in 2023 targeted Rare Breed Triggers, a company that sold such devices, resulting in a court order halting sales.
However, while the case was under appeal, the National Association for Gun Rights challenged the ban in Texas, where a judge ruled it unlawful. The new settlement ends these legal battles, mandates the return of seized or surrendered forced-reset triggers to owners, and prevents enforcement of the machine gun ban on these devices—provided they are not intended for use with handguns.
Gun control advocates, including Vanessa Gonzalez of Giffords, sharply criticized the move, warning it effectively legalizes machine guns and puts lives at risk. In contrast, Dudley Brown of the National Association for Gun Rights praised the outcome, framing it as a victory for firearm owners’ rights.
The settlement is expected to spark renewed national debate over gun control, firearm accessories, and the boundaries of Second Amendment protections.