Trump administration takes major steps to roll back gun regulations
PBS News Hour – Politics — 2026-07-06 17:35:00 — www.pbs.org
During his campaign for the White House, President Donald Trump pledged to expand Second Amendment rights across the country. Now, his administration is taking significant steps to roll back gun restrictions that were put in place for public safety.
Trump Administration Moves to “Modernize” Gun Policy
Earlier this year, the Justice Department, under Trump’s direction, unveiled a major plan to reduce regulations on purchasing firearms, arguing that the changes would “modernize gun policy.” The administration has also taken more targeted actions, including challenging gun restrictions in Democratic-led states.
Efforts to Roll Back Key Gun Safety Rules
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), under the Trump administration, has proposed about three dozen rollbacks. While many are administrative, some are substantial. Notably, the administration has proposed rolling back a rule intended to close the so-called “gun show loophole,” a move that has drawn sharp criticism from gun reform advocates. Additionally, the administration is seeking to reduce regulations on devices like bump stocks, which were used in the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting.
Controversial Changes Affecting Mental Health Restrictions
Another controversial rollback involves reducing restrictions on people with mental illness owning firearms. The ATF itself warned that such changes could increase the risk of mass casualty events. However, the Trump administration’s position clarifies that only those involuntarily committed to psychiatric institutions would lose gun rights, not those who voluntarily seek treatment. This change has been debated since the Obama administration, but Trump’s team is pushing for less restrictive rules.
Legal Challenges to State Gun Laws
Since Trump took office, the Department of Justice has shifted the focus of its Civil Rights Division to enforcing gun rights, a departure from its historical role in voting rights and school desegregation. The Trump administration has filed seven lawsuits against jurisdictions across the country, including recent challenges to California’s handgun regulations and Virginia’s assault weapons ban. This aggressive legal strategy marks a new approach not previously seen from the Civil Rights Division.
Potential Impact on Assault Weapons Bans
The Supreme Court is set to review cases involving state and local assault weapons bans. If the Court rules against these bans, it could render similar laws in about a dozen states unconstitutional, affecting regulations that have been in place since the 1990s and were often enacted in response to mass shootings.
Conclusion
President Trump’s administration has made expanding gun rights a central priority, actively rolling back regulations and challenging state-level restrictions. These actions represent a significant shift in federal gun policy, with potential consequences for public safety and state authority over firearms regulation. As the Supreme Court prepares to weigh in, the future of gun control laws across the country hangs in the balance.