2A Win: Trump Justice Dept. Ends Biden's "Zero Tolerance" Policy Targeting Gun Stores
The Department of Justice is working to restore the Second Amendment to full strength by overturning a Biden-era policy that led to the highest number of gun store closures in 16 years.
In a major win for constitutional rights and gun owners across America, the U.S. Department of Justice has officially rescinded the Biden administration’s sweeping "zero tolerance" policy—an aggressive directive that shut down federally licensed firearm (FFL) dealers for minor clerical errors.
"For years, the Zero Tolerance Policy has been a tool of political retribution—targeting gun stores and Americans who were simply trying to exercise their rights," said Gun Owners of America (GOA) Senior Vice President Erich Pratt. "We applaud President Trump, Attorney General Bondi, and Director Kash Patel for listening to gun owners and taking action to repeal this abusive policy. This is what pro-gun leadership looks like."
During Biden's administration, Congress blocked numerous efforts by Democrats to directly undermine the Second Amendment—leading the federal government to exploit the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as a backdoor mechanism for gun control. More than 300 law-abiding FFL holders were subjected to raids and investigations designed not to address genuine threats, but to manufacture violations through regulatory entrapment.
Revocations reached a staggering 16-year high under the outlandish policy that circumvented due process for political gain.
In many cases, licensees lost their businesses and their sole source of income. One Tennessee store owner, J.C. Harrison, was among the victims of this overreach in 2022. The ATF revoked his license over so-called violations that amounted to clerical slip-ups such as delays in background checks and incomplete repair logs. Harrison, who had no prior record of wrongdoing, appealed the revocation. He was denied.
"This was an attack on the Second Amendment through the back door," he said. "My wife and I, this was our sole income, and it’s not anymore."
(RELATED: Trump Just Ended Washington's Assault on Gun Rights, Full Stop)
By simply broadening what agents could consider a "willful" violation and directing inspectors to pursue clerical errors, the Biden administration waged war on law-abiding gun store owners. The ATF revoked 92 licenses in 2020 and over 200 in 2024.
"That’s not how regulatory agencies are supposed to work in the sector that they’re supposed to regulate. They are supposed to help the companies, they’re supposed to ensure compliance but they’re not supposed to punish and destroy an entire industry based on just political opposition or political distaste," said Gun Owners of America Director of Federal Affairs Aidan Johnston.
The move marks a significant step by the White House toward restoring Second Amendment rights in America and follows up on President Donald Trump's day-one promise to protect the Second Amendment. Since taking office, Trump has abolished the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and instructed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to review all Second Amendment laws to ensure they align with the Constitution.
Can you believe it's already been 100 days since President Trump took office?!
— Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) April 29, 2025
✅2A Executive Orders
✅Abolished Office of Gun Violence Prevention
✅Created 2A Task Force
✅Ended Zero Tolerance Policy
✅Created path for Restoration of Rights
What do you want to see next? pic.twitter.com/qQlV7ItS62
Now, with the revocation of the "zero tolerance" policy, FFL licensees can conduct business without fear of arbitrary investigations. For the hundreds of licensees penalized under the Biden administration, there may be hope for restored FFL status.
The Trump administration has made it clear that the Second Amendment will be protected, and the Department of Justice has been its primary instrument in doing so. Now, the outlook is even brighter for gun owners.
Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, is reshaping how the government views the Second Amendment—framing it as a civil rights issue.
"The Second Amendment is one of the constitutional rights we are committed to defending," Dhillon said. "We're adding that to our analysis where states are violating constitutional rights."
This new approach has already prompted an investigation into the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department over delays in issuing concealed carry permits. Federal officials say the inquiry will examine whether these delays represent a pattern of Second Amendment violations.
(READ MORE: Trump Struck a Blow for Gun Rights in 2024. Now We Must Make That Victory Permanent)
