Trump administration approves deployment of device enhancing rapid-fire capability for semi-automatic rifles.
Revised Article:
Trump's Administration Lends a Hand to Faster Semi-Automatic Rifle Firing
President Donald Trump's administration took a bold step forward last Friday, giving the green light to a gadget allowing semi-automatic rifles to fire faster. This move, as critics assert, opens the floodgates for more mass shootings, according to gun control advocates.
The Department of Justice dropped the bomb in a settlement between federal authorities and Rare Breed Triggers, a gun manufacturer under fire from the current administration. Pamela Bondi, the Attorney General, weighed in on the matter, declaring, "This Department of Justice values the 2nd Amendment support, recognizing it as a fundamental right, not a secondary privilege."
Forced-reset triggers (FRT) are the culprits, enabling a semi-automatic rifle to spit out rounds at an accelerated pace through automatic trigger resets post-shot. In 2022, under the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) labeled these devices as machine guns. Congress has maintained strict control over machine guns since the NFA took root, with the business of manufacturing them for civilian use banned completely under the Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1986, championed by the National Rifle Association.
Reminiscent of a 2023 lawsuit brought forth by the Justice Department in New York, Rare Breed Triggers created and peddled these devices. The litigation led to a court ruling that blocked the sale of these FRTs. However, while the case was ongoing, the National Association of Gun Rights (NAGR) filed a separate lawsuit in Texas, challenging the ban. The judge in this case ruled the ban as unlawful.
The newly-sealed settlement quashes these disputes and aligns with Trump's February executive order aiming to safeguard the Second Amendment's "right to bear arms." The Justice Department elaborated on the settlement by stating, "This decision signals a new wave of accountability for the DOJ and ATF when they infringe on the rights of law-abiding gun proprietors."
Dudley Brown, NAGR's President, added his thoughts, "Today's decision sets a strong precedent that the DOJ and ATF cannot disregard the rights of responsible gun owners with impunity."
The settlement includes "agreed-upon terms" concerning public safety with respect to FRTs, according to the Department of Justice. Rare Breed agreed to not tamper with FRTs for handguns and to enforce its patents. Moreover, the company pledged to advocate for the safe and responsible use of its devices.
CNN reached out to Rare Breed Triggers for their take on the settlement, but as of now, they remain tight-lipped.
Skepticism and outrage from Democratic lawmakers and gun control activists pepper the response to this decision.
Vanessa Gonzalez, Vice President with GIFFORDS, the gun violence prevention group led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, branded the Trump administration's move as "legalizing machine guns." She further outlined her concerns, "This reckless action enables shooters to inflict unprecedented damage. The only winners in this scenario are the manufacturers raking in profits while putting innocent lives at risk."
The national gun control advocacy group, Brady United, echoed these sentiments, expressing worry that "highly dangerous weapons of mass destruction" can now be bought without undergoing a background check. Kris Brown, the organization's president, was unequivocal in her statement, "The Trump Administration's covert settlement with the gun lobby to approve Forced Reset Triggers not only showcases an appalling misuse of power but also jeopardizes decades of rational governmental gun safety policy and endangers entire communities instantly."
- In a scenario where political and sports spheres collide, the ongoing debate about the recent settlement involving Rare Breed Triggers and the Department of Justice has sparked heated discussions, with gun control advocates likening the approved Forced-reset triggers to a sports team disregarding the rules for their own benefit, putting innocent lives at risk.
- In the realms of politics and technology, the Trump administration's decision to permit faster semi-automatic rifle firing through the approved use of Forced-reset triggers has stirred controversy, drawing comparisons to the development and release of a controversial new technology, with critics arguing it could lead to a surge in technological arms races, similar to the proliferation of highly dangerous weapons of mass destruction.
