At the start of the year, gun owners were promised big wins—national reciprocity, constitutional carry expansion, NFA repeal, and a rollback of federal gun regulations. Instead, Congress delivered minimal reforms, and the DOJ under Pam Bondi has now taken a hard turn in the opposite direction.

After Congress zeroed out the tax on certain NFA items—effectively eliminating the legal basis for the NFA registry—lawmakers sent a letter to the DOJ clarifying that their intent was to deregister these items. The DOJ ignored the letter.

This week, the DOJ filed its response in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, and it shocked the 2A community. In a 48-page memo, the DOJ aggressively defended the NFA using arguments typically heard from anti-gun administrations. They described NFA items as “weapons of war,” claimed short-barreled rifles and shotguns are primarily used by criminals, and even offered logic that could justify banning nearly any firearm.

To the frustration of many, the DOJ even cited Ninth Circuit precedent—one of the least gun-friendly courts in the country.

Despite the DOJ’s stance, Silencer Shop still has a strong case. Both sides are seeking summary judgment, and the outcome could reshape federal gun regulation.

For many gun owners, this filing represents the biggest betrayal yet, proving that the so-called “most pro-2A DOJ ever” is fully committed to preserving the NFA instead of dismantling it.