15 Democratic States Sue Trump Administration Over Machine Gun Conversion Devices

A coalition of 15 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's decision to reverse a Biden-era ban on forced-reset triggers—devices that convert semiautomatic rifles to fire at machine gun speeds. The lawsuit argues that these devices, classified by the Biden administration's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as illegal machine guns under federal law, pose significant public safety risks and should not be returned to gun owners. The Trump administration settled litigation in May, agreeing to allow possession of these devices and to return nearly 12,000 previously seized devices, provided manufacturers refrain from developing similar devices for handguns. The states contend that returning these devices is reckless, especially since many have state laws banning them, and warn that their redistribution could increase gun violence, mass shootings, and strain public health resources. The coalition's lawsuit emphasizes that the settlement undermines both federal and state firearm regulations and prioritizes firearm industry interests over community safety. This legal action underscores the ongoing conflict between state governments and federal policy shifts on firearms regulation under President Trump.