Duval Times

Senator Rick Scott, alongside Senator John Cornyn and 28 other Senate GOP colleagues, has called on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to align its policies with former President Donald Trump's Second Amendment priorities. In a letter addressed to ATF Deputy Director Marvin Richardson, the senators urged the agency to rescind firearms regulations enacted during President Joe Biden's administration.

The letter states: "On Friday, February 7, 2025, President Donald J. Trump took decisive action to reaffirm law-abiding Americans’ Second Amendment rights in issuing his Executive Order, Protecting Second Amendment Rights. We urge you to immediately align ATF’s rules and policies with the President’s strong support for the Second Amendment."

The senators further noted that under Biden's leadership, several ATF policies infringed upon Second Amendment protections. They referenced Trump's Executive Order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to review these regulations. "We ask that you work with the Attorney General to quickly identify and rescind these policies," they wrote.

The letter specifically calls for the revocation of four major rules:

1. The "engaged in the business" rule which mandates universal background checks.

2. The pistol brace rule which reclassifies pistols with stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles.

3. The "ghost gun" rule targeting privately built firearms.

4. The "zero tolerance" policy leading to license revocations over minor violations.

Additionally, the senators requested the destruction of firearm transaction records older than 20 years held by ATF and advocated for improved processing times for National Firearms Act applications.

"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," concluded the letter signed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other prominent GOP senators.