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DOJ says it won't enforce provisions of 1934 firearms law that were gutted by court ruling
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- The Justice Department announced it will no longer enforce key provisions of the 1934 National Firearms Act regulating short-barreled rifles, shotguns, suppressors, and other concealable firearms after a federal judge ruled much of the law unconstitutional.
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued new guidelines stating individuals will no longer need regulatory approval to make or transfer these firearms, though state and local laws still apply.
- The ruling came from U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, who found that after Congress eliminated a $200 tax on these firearms, the law could no longer be upheld under the taxing power.
- The decision, resulting from lawsuits by 15 states and gun rights groups, has complicated prosecutions and led the Justice Department not to appeal following President Trump's directive.
- Despite the federal change, the Justice Department emphasized it will continue processing voluntary registration applications due to ongoing state and local restrictions.
