Written by Aidan Johnston via Gun Owners of America,
President Trump ran on a platform of strengthening Second Amendment protections. However, over a year into his second term, many gun owners are feeling disheartened and are considering sitting out the upcoming midterm elections.
Despite high hopes for significant changes under President Trump, the reality is that there has been limited progress in reforming the nation’s gun laws. The frustration among gun owners is particularly directed at the Department of Justice under Attorney General Pam Bondi, where numerous shortcomings in upholding gun rights have been observed.
Pam Bondi had a mixed record on the Second Amendment during her time as Florida’s attorney general. She supported several anti-gun measures following the Parkland shooting, which included red flag laws, raising the age for gun ownership, Florida’s open carry ban, and a ban on bump stocks.
Concerns were raised by gun rights groups during her nomination, and those concerns have proven to be valid. Despite President Trump’s directive for a report on Second Amendment infringements, the Department of Justice, under Bondi’s leadership, failed to deliver on this promise, among other key issues.
The lack of progress in curtailing Biden-era gun control rules, such as the “ghost-gun” regulation, the ban on pistol stabilizing braces, and the universal background check rule, has left many gun owners feeling let down by the Department of Justice.
While there have been positive developments in other areas of the administration, including challenges to unconstitutional state-level gun controls and the restoration of gun rights to veterans, the shortcomings in advancing gun rights agenda at the Department of Justice remain a significant concern.
Gun owners did not support President Trump to maintain the status quo at the DOJ but to bring about significant changes in federal policies concerning the Second Amendment. The disconnect between the progress in other departments and the lack of action in the DOJ has led to growing dissatisfaction among gun owners.
It is crucial for the next Attorney General to take decisive action to address these issues, including ceasing enforcement of Biden-era rules and defending unconstitutional gun laws. By doing so, they can restore faith in the administration’s commitment to protecting Second Amendment rights and energize the gun-rights community ahead of the upcoming elections.
The clock is ticking, and it is time for the Department of Justice to align with the president’s agenda and prioritize safeguarding constitutional rights.