by Trump Administration Approves Faster-Firing Rifle Device, Sparking Outrage from Gun Control Advocates
The Trump administration has approved the sale of a controversial gun accessory that increases the firing speed of semi-automatic rifles — a decision that gun safety advocates say could lead to more mass shootings.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the move Friday as part of a legal settlement with gun manufacturer Rare Breed Triggers. The company had been involved in a lawsuit brought under the Biden administration over its forced-reset triggers (FRTs).
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement, “This Department of Justice believes the Second Amendment is not a second-class right. We’re pleased to end this unnecessary litigation with a resolution that enhances public safety.”
What Are Forced-Reset Triggers?
Forced-reset triggers are devices that allow a semi-automatic rifle to fire more rapidly by automatically resetting the trigger after each shot. In 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) classified FRTs as illegal machine guns under the National Firearms Act of 1934, which has tightly restricted machine guns for decades. Civilian manufacturing of machine guns was banned in 1986 through a law supported by the NRA.
The DOJ filed a lawsuit in 2023 in New York against Rare Breed for selling FRTs, and the court temporarily blocked the company from distributing them. Meanwhile, the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) filed a separate challenge in Texas, where a judge ruled the ban was unlawful.
Settlement Signals a Major Shift
The new settlement resolves both legal battles and aligns with a February executive order by former President Trump, aimed at reinforcing Second Amendment rights. The DOJ says the agreement includes several safety provisions. Rare Breed has agreed not to develop FRTs for pistols and will enforce its patents to prevent unauthorized manufacturing. The company also committed to promoting responsible use of its products.
NAGR President Dudley Brown celebrated the outcome. “This decision marks a new era of holding the DOJ and ATF accountable when they trample the rights of law-abiding gun owners,” he said. “We made them give back what they took, and that’s a precedent they’ll never forget.”
Strong Backlash from Gun Safety Advocates
Gun control groups and Democratic lawmakers condemned the settlement, arguing it weakens long-standing protections against dangerous weapons.
Vanessa Gonzalez, a vice president at GIFFORDS — the gun violence prevention group led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords — said the administration “effectively legalized machine guns.”
“This is a dangerous step that will let shooters cause even more destruction,” Gonzalez said. “The only winners here are the companies profiting from these devices. Everyone else faces the risks.”
Brady United, another major gun safety group, warned the settlement could allow high-powered weapons to be sold anonymously and without background checks.
“This secret deal between Trump’s DOJ and the gun lobby is a reckless abuse of power,” said Brady President Kris Brown. “It turns already deadly firearms into weapons of mass destruction and undermines decades of common-sense gun policy. Communities across the country are now at greater risk.”
CNN has reached out to Rare Breed Triggers for comment on the settlement but has not received a response.
