Pro-2A Groups Split Over DOJ’s Defense of Revised National Firearms Act

Second-amendment advocates are divided on the Justice Department’s move to defend a court-ordered summary judgment in a challenge to the National Firearms Act after tax exemptions were added.

The Department of Justice has asked a federal judge to issue summary judgment in a lawsuit challenging the National Firearms Act, which was altered by a 2025 reconciliation bill that eliminated taxes on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, shotguns and other weapons. Gun Owners of America’s senior vice president Erich Pratt condemned the DOJ’s defense, calling the law unconstitutional and urging the administration to side with the plaintiffs.

In contrast, SAF executive director Adam Kraut emphasized the separation of powers, arguing that Congress writes laws, the executive enforces them, and courts interpret constitutionality. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon reinforced this stance, saying policy disagreements should be aired in Congress, not through DOJ litigation. The debate reflects broader tension within the gun-rights community over how to address the NFA’s registration requirements now that certain items are untaxed. The case, Brown v. ATF, continues to serve as a focal point for groups seeking to overturn the permit-based regime.