President Donald J. Trump’s latest executive order, “Protecting Second Amendment Rights,” is certainly catching the attention of gun owners. 

The order directs the Attorney General to review and identify any firearm-related regulations enacted between January 2021 and January 2025 that may infringe upon the rights of law-abiding Americans. For many gun owners and constitutionalists, this move is a welcome course correction from the bureaucratic overreach that plagued the Biden administration.

A Course Correction for the Second Amendment

President Trump’s order calls for a systematic review of executive actions, agency policies, and regulatory measures that “may have” encroached on the right to keep and bear arms. The focus will be on rules put in place by the Biden administration, including ATF regulations targeting firearm classifications, licensing, and enforcement priorities.

For pro-Second Amendment Americans, this represents a crucial step in rolling back measures that have made it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to exercise their rights. The order prioritizes action on agency overreach, a notorious tactic used by the ATF to impose gun control without Congressional approval. One of the most egregious examples of this was the Biden administration’s attempt to reclassify certain firearms and components to restrict ownership without legislative authority.

This Executive Order is yet another positive action taken by President Trump following his appointment of David Warrington as Chief White House legal counsel. Before taking the position, Warrington served as Board Chairman, Chief Legal Counsel, and Day One Founder of the National Association for Gun RIghts, so his appointment to this prestigious Trump Administration post was a big win for gun owners.

A Troubling Legacy: The Bump Stock Ban

Now, while this executive order is a welcomed return to constitutional principles, some gun rights advocates remain wary of President Trump’s past record on the Second Amendment—most notably, his administration’s unilateral ban on bump stocks in 2018. Following the tragic 2017 Las Vegas shooting, the Trump administration reclassified bump stocks as “machine guns,” thereby outlawing them without any action from Congress. This action by Trump’s ATF is believed by many observers to have opened the floodgates for Biden’s abuse of the ATF rulemaking process.

Thankfully, Trump’s bump stock ban was later struck down by the Supreme Court in 2024, a decision that he has respected. The ruling affirmed what many gun owners already knew— the ATF does not have the authority to create new laws out of thin air.. Trump’s willingness to allow an agency like the ATF to restrict firearm accessories without a legislative process remains a point of concern among gun owners.

Pam Bondi’s Mixed Record on Gun Rights

Adding to the concerns of many gun owners is the appointment of Pam Bondi as Attorney General. Bondi has a history of supporting “red flag” laws, which allow courts to confiscate firearms from individuals deemed a threat—without due process. Following the 2018 Parkland shooting, Bondi backed Florida’s sweeping gun control measures, including an age increase for firearm purchases and the implementation of red flag laws, which violate numerous constitutionally-protected rights.

Now, as Attorney General, Bondi is tasked with overseeing the very review that President Trump has ordered. Will she aggressively roll back anti-gun policies? Or will she rubber stamp regulations that clearly violate the rights of Americans like she did as Florida’s Attorney General? These are the questions that remain on the minds of gun owners across the country.

The Best Possible Outcome

To fully restore and protect Second Amendment rights, President Trump’s executive order must lead to the complete dismantling of unconstitutional regulations. That means rolling back ATF overreach, rescinding any “enhanced enforcement” measures that punish lawful gun owners, and ensuring no future administration can easily reinstate similar restrictions.

A truly strong outcome would also include a rejection of red flag laws at the federal level, ensuring that due process remains intact for all Americans. If Bondi is serious about enforcing the Second Amendment, she should use her position to reverse any anti-gun litigation positions taken by the DOJ over the past four years. Additionally, Trump should ensure that any new federal judges or Supreme Court justices he appoints are firmly in favor of an originalist interpretation of the Second Amendment.

President Trump’s executive order is a positive step, but actions speak louder than words. For gun owners, the fight to protect the Second Amendment never stops, and vigilance is key to ensuring that our rights remain secure.

One major policy that President Trump can support to win the accolades of the gun rights movement would be to publicly support and call for the passage of Congressman Thomas Massie’s National Constitutional Carry Act (H.R. 645). This important bill would eliminate the patchwork of carry restrictions and permits across the country and fully restore the right to bear arms in the United States.