A group of Republican senators has sent a sharply worded letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), urging the agency to realign its policies with President Trump’s strong support for Second Amendment rights.
The letter, co-signed by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and several other GOP lawmakers, calls for the swift rescission of several firearm regulations enacted under former President Biden.
The letter specifically targets what the senators refer to as the “Engaged in the Business” rule, the pistol brace rule, the so-called “ghost gun” rule, and the “zero tolerance” policy under which ATF has revoked federal firearm licenses for minor bookkeeping violations.
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The senators argue that these policies infringe on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans and impose undue burdens on gun owners.
“On Friday, February 7, 2025, President Donald J. Trump took decisive action to reaffirm law-abiding Americans’ Second Amendment rights by issuing his Executive Order, Protecting Second Amendment Rights,” the letter reads. “We urge you to immediately align ATF’s rules and policies with the President’s strong support for the Second Amendment.”
Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn said that the current rules have led to unnecessary restrictions and penalties for American gun owners. “Under former President Joe Biden, ATF adopted numerous policies and rules that infringed upon Americans’ Second Amendment protections,” the letter states. “We ask that you work with the Attorney General to quickly identify and rescind these policies.”
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Among the changes demanded, the senators highlight:
- Engaged in the Business Rule: An attempt to impose universal background checks on law-abiding Americans by redefining who qualifies as a firearms dealer.
- Pistol Brace Rule: A policy that reclassifies pistols with stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles, subjecting them to onerous regulations and severe penalties.
- Ghost Gun Rule: A measure that targets the privately built firearms of law-abiding hobbyists, a longstanding tradition in America.
- Zero Tolerance Policy: A rule that has resulted in the revocation of federal firearm licenses over minor, unintentional bookkeeping violations.
Additionally, the letter calls on ATF to destroy outdated firearm transaction records (Form 4473) that contain sensitive personal information, arguing that retaining these records serves no law enforcement purpose but poses privacy risks and unnecessary costs.
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Sen. Cruz concluded, “We look forward to working with you through the transition as you implement President Trump’s agenda and reorient ATF toward protecting Americans’ Second Amendment rights.”
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