In a stunning reversal that’s got the gun rights world buzzing, the Department of Justice has thrown in the towel on defending President Biden’s infamous engaged in the business rule—a regulatory sledgehammer aimed at turning your occasional garage sale of a spare rifle into a federal felony without a license. This ATF power grab, born from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, redefined engaged in the business to ensnare hobbyists, heirs unloading family heirlooms, and casual sellers who dared profit a buck or two without jumping through FFL hoops. The rule’s collapse comes as the DOJ quietly moves to dismiss appeals in ongoing lawsuits, like those from Gun Owners of America and the Firearms Policy Coalition, signaling they’re not willing to bleed taxpayer dollars defending what courts already shredded as unconstitutional overreach.
This isn’t just bureaucratic retreat; it’s a seismic win for the Second Amendment, exposing the fragility of the administrative state’s gun-control fantasies under judicial scrutiny. Remember, the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision in 2022 demanded regulations be rooted in historical tradition—not bureaucratic fiat—and lower courts have been dismantling Biden’s arsenal of rules ever since, from pistol braces to forced facey fingerprints. The DOJ’s backpedal likely stems from the incoming Trump administration’s pro-2A signals, with figures like Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi poised to gut these remnants of Bidenomics-by-executive-order. Critics in the gun-grab lobby will cry foul, but this move underscores a core truth: when you can’t legislate through Congress, you regulate through agencies—until the courts (and political winds) smack you down.
For the 2A community, the implications are electric. Private sales remain a cornerstone of our rights, free from universal background check nonsense that only burdens the law-abiding. This retreat buys breathing room, but vigilance is key—expect blue-state AGs and Soros-funded suits to pick up the slack. Stock up, train up, and celebrate: one less chain on our birthright. The fight’s far from over, but today’s DOJ surrender is a reminder that persistence pays, and the right side is winning.
