A legal challenge has been initiated by sixteen states against the Trump administration’s strategy to allow the sale of forced-reset triggers, designed to enable semiautomatic rifles to operate with increased firing speed. The lawsuit also opposes the return of triggers that had previously been confiscated.
Filed in a Maryland federal court, the lawsuit asserts that reversing the confiscation of these devices would contravene federal statutes, endanger both the public and law enforcement, and exacerbate gun violence issues. The contention stems from numerous legal arguments surrounding these triggers, which replace the standard mechanism on AR-15-style rifles.
The Biden administration had previously contended these triggers meet the legal definition of machine guns since maintaining finger pressure on them transforms the rifle’s firing capability into that of an automatic weapon, thus violating existing federal law.
Rare Breed Triggers, the manufacturer responsible for producing these controversial devices, challenged the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ classification, alleging it was incorrect and protesting the ruling. The company persisted in its commercial activities concerning the triggers until litigation was initiated by the Biden administration.
Recently, the Justice Department announced an agreement with Rare Breed Triggers that permits the continued sale of the forced-reset devices. The company’s legal representation during this agreement was none other than David Warrington, who currently serves as White House counsel under Trump.
As part of the settlement’s terms, Rare Breed Triggers committed to abstaining from developing devices intended for use with handguns. Additionally, the settlement stipulated that the ATF would return the previously seized items, or those voluntarily handed over to the authorities, back to their original owners.
Leading the coalition of states involved in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey. States such as Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, alongside the District of Columbia, have joined the legal action. These states’ attorneys general are largely Democrats, with Hawaii’s office noted as nonpartisan.