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If you’ve been following the ATF’s greatest hits, you’ve seen them try to cancel the Forced Reset Trigger (FRT) like it was a problematic celebrity. But plot twist: in a glorious act of bureaucratic backpedaling, a Trump-era DOJ settlement has made them legal again.
Yes, you read that right. After years of the ATF screaming “machine gun!” every time someone mentioned the word “trigger,” it turns out Rare Breed wasn’t the crazy one. The agency just had another case of spontaneous regulation syndrome—and now they’ve been legally told to sit down.
What the Heck Is an FRT Anyway?
For those who missed the original drama, FRTs (like Rare Breed’s FRT-15) use a mechanical reset system that allows for lightning-fast, but still one shot per trigger pull. Translation: they don’t meet the legal definition of a machine gun—unless you stretch it beyond recognition, which the ATF was more than happy to do.
The result? Armed raids, cease and desist letters, gun owners caught in the crossfire—and one extremely determined manufacturer, Rare Breed Triggers, who said, “Nope, we’ll see you in court.”
The Trump-Era DOJ Settlement: Surprise! You Were Legal All Along
Fast forward to 2025, and thanks to a previously buried settlement made under the Trump administration, it’s official: Rare Breed’s FRT-15 is legal. The Department of Justice acknowledged in that agreement that the FRT-15 does not meet the statutory definition of a machine gun under federal law. This agreement has now come to light and is binding—meaning the ATF’s sudden rulemaking is… well, illegal.
That’s right: all those seizures, threats, and press releases calling the FRT an “illegal machine gun”? Invalidated by a legal agreement the ATF somehow forgot to mention in court. Oops.
🔥 Legal Whiplash, Anyone?
First it’s legal. Then it’s not. Now it’s legal again—because apparently even the DOJ can’t keep up with the ATF’s improvisational approach to firearms law.
Why This Settlement Actually Matters
- Rare Breed Triggers is vindicated. The DOJ settlement proves their design never violated federal law.
- ATF is officially overruled. Their enforcement actions were in direct contradiction to a legally binding agreement.
- Gun owners can breathe (slightly) easier. Owning an FRT-15 is no longer a potential felony—again.
- Legal precedent is set. This settlement may limit future ATF attempts to criminalize products without going through Congress.
Groups like Firearms Policy Coalition and Gun Owners of America are already jumping on this win, pushing for broader rollbacks of ATF overreach—and honestly, they’re not wrong.
Final Thoughts: The ATF Lost, Logic Won
The FRT saga is a masterclass in how regulatory agencies can twist, ignore, and selectively enforce the law—until someone finds the receipts. This Trump-era settlement might not be the final nail in the ATF’s coffin, but it’s definitely a reminder that even alphabet agencies have to follow the rules… eventually.
So, if you shelved your FRT in fear of prosecution? Dust it off, check your local laws, and maybe keep the paperwork handy. Because the ATF might just try to re-ban it next week—probably after a lunch meeting and a dartboard session.
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