Overview
- U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor held on Monday that the 2022 ATF regulation violated the Second Amendment and was unconstitutionally vague under the Fifth Amendment and enjoined enforcement for Defense Distributed and certain Second Amendment Foundation members for specific products.
- The 2022 rule had treated partially finished frames, receivers and parts kits as 'firearms' under the 1968 Gun Control Act and required serial numbers, federal licensing and background checks for their commercial sale.
- The court's decision follows a March 2025 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that addressed only whether the ATF exceeded its authority and left constitutional and vagueness claims unresolved, prompting plaintiffs to seek fresh relief.
- On Administrative Procedure Act claims the judge sided with the government by granting summary judgment to federal defendants, so the order blocks enforcement only for the named plaintiffs and listed items rather than vacating the entire rule.
- Gun-rights groups praised the ruling, gun-control advocates called it wrong and the Justice Department is expected to appeal, meaning higher courts are likely to decide whether the change will affect enforcement more broadly.