Trump tells DOJ to drop appeal of court decision easing gangster-weapon rules

U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix ruled that most provisions of the National Firearms Act, which tightly regulate short-barreled rifles, shotguns and silencers, are unconstitutional after Congress eliminated a related tax. President Trump instructed the Justice Department not to appeal, a choice. DOJ attorneys expressed concern that the decision undermines federal gun prosecutions and breaches the department’s duty to defend congressional laws.

While the injunction formally covers only the lawsuit’s plaintiffs, the judge extended its effect to current and future members of those gun-rights groups. The change has already led to a dismissal of a silencer case in Alabama, though new charges, including illegal machine-gun possession, have been filed. Critics argue the move threatens public safety, while supporters cite constitutional limits on federal power.