**Another broken promise.** That's what I'd call this.
The ATF just dropped a bomb on the firearms community: they're keeping Biden's 2022 "frames and receivers" rule in place. You know the one—that controversial regulation that treats unfinished 80% lowers and parts kits as actual firearms under federal law.
Here's what galls me most. Trump signed an executive order back in February 2025 directing a review of Biden-era ATF regulations. The DOJ under Pam Bondi requested 90-day stays in the key lawsuits, suggesting they were cooking up a new, more gun-friendly rule. We all held our breath, thinking maybe—*maybe*—the government would finally back off.
Nope. No new rule coming. The old one stays.
Gun Owners of America called it out perfectly: Trump's DOJ decided to "adopt" Biden's anti-gun rule while the White House called the same rule an "attack" on gun owners. That's not just hypocrisy—that's a slap in the face to every Second Amendment supporter who voted for change.
**What this means for my shop and customers:**
If you're selling certain unfinished frames, receivers, or those popular build-your-own kits, you better have an FFL. You need to serialize everything, run background checks, and keep records. The ATF redefined "frame or receiver" to include anything "readily convertible" with basic tools—meaning that pile of aluminum some hobbyist wants to mill into a lower? Legally a firearm now.
Millions of Americans have built their own guns since this country was founded. It's not some new criminal loophole—it's a protected right. The courts even agreed initially; the Fifth Circuit vacated this rule in 2022. But the Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision, gave it a narrow pass.
The Firearms Policy Coalition and Second Amendment Foundation aren't throwing in the towel. They're still fighting constitutional challenges. Defense Distributed—Cody Wilson's company—is pushing forward, arguing this rule violates our historical tradition of private arms-making.
**Bottom line:**
Law-abiding hobbyists get criminalized. Small businesses face crushing compliance costs. And the ATF gets to keep flexing regulatory muscle Congress never gave them.
This fight's far from over. But today's news? It's a gut punch.