Lawmaker Fights ATF Overreach with RIFLE Act

The battle over federal firearm regulations has taken a sharp turn as Representative Tracey Mann of Kansas reintroduces the Reining In Federal Licensing Enforcement (RIFLE) Act. The bill aims to protect Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) from what many gun rights advocates see as blatant overreach by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

An Essential Bill

Under the Biden administration, the ATF enforced a “zero tolerance” policy, leading to a record number of FFL revocations over minor clerical errors. The RIFLE Act, if passed, would restore due process for gun store owners, provide legal protections, and ensure that future administrations cannot repeat these actions. The bill, according to Mann, is essential in preserving the Second Amendment rights of both business owners and American citizens.

The ATF’s “Zero Tolerance” Crackdown

According to Rep. Mann’s official press release, the ATF, under the Biden administration, revoked FFL licenses at an unprecedented rate, with 2024 seeing the highest number of revocations in 20 years. The cause? Minor paperwork errors – things as trivial as missing a middle initial or abbreviating a state name incorrectly. Mann and other lawmakers argue that this weaponization of federal power was nothing more than an attempt to cripple the gun industry and, by extension, weaken the Second Amendment.

Gun rights advocates, including Aidan Johnston of Gun Owners of America, support the RIFLE Act, stating that ATF agents continue to shut down gun stores under the guise of regulatory compliance while secretly working to collect out-of-business records for a national gun registry – something that is illegal under federal law.

William Kirk Breaks Down the Bill

In a recent video, Washington Gun Law President William Kirk provided a detailed breakdown of the legislation. He emphasized that the bill would create clear guidelines for the ATF, preventing them from revoking FFLs without giving business owners a fair chance to rectify errors.

Kirk noted that political shifts are inevitable, and without legislation like the RIFLE Act, future administrations could once again unleash the ATF against gun store owners. He praised the bill for codifying due process, preventing ATF agents from treating simple bookkeeping mistakes as willful violations.

One of the bill’s key provisions, as Kirk highlighted, is that all revoked, suspended, or denied FFLs under the Biden-era zero tolerance policy would be automatically reinstated. Additionally, the bill creates a formal appeals process, allowing FFLs to challenge ATF decisions before an administrative judge and receive reimbursement for legal fees incurred.

What the RIFLE Act Does

The RIFLE Act isn’t just about reversing previous actions – it seeks to establish firm rules to prevent future abuse. According to Mann’s press release, the bill includes provisions to:

• Ensure the ATF works with FFLs before revoking licenses, allowing time for compliance.
• Clearly define what constitutes a “willful violation” and require clear and convincing evidence before action is taken.
• Allow FFLs to challenge ATF decisions in court with a legitimate appeals process.
• Reinstate wrongly revoked licenses and compensate affected business owners.
• Create a dedicated website, gunrightsrestored.gov, for affected FFLs to file reimbursement claims.

These changes force the ATF to follow proper procedures and provide transparency, rather than arbitrarily shutting down businesses over technicalities.

Troy at 2A News Now Sounds the Alarm

Gun rights YouTuber Troy at 2A News Now also weighed in on the RIFLE Act in his latest video. Troy echoed concerns that the Biden administration weaponized the ATF to target gun stores unfairly.

Troy pointed out that under Biden’s policies, over 250 FFLs were revoked nationwide, with 20 in Kansas alone. He noted that before the zero tolerance policy, the ATF would issue warnings for minor paperwork mistakes – not immediately shut down businesses. The RIFLE Act, he argued, is essential to ensuring that no future president can use the ATF as a political tool against the firearm industry.

The Political Fight Ahead

While the bill has strong support among pro-Second Amendment lawmakers and organizations like the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Gun Owners of America (GOA), it is expected to face significant opposition in Congress. With partisan divides over gun control as sharp as ever, the fate of the bill will likely come down to which party controls the House, Senate, and White House in the coming months.

Not Helping to Fight the Gun Trafficking

Gun control advocates have remained largely silent on the bill so far, though it’s expected that they will oppose any effort to limit ATF authority. Some Democratic lawmakers have argued that the ATF’s actions were necessary to enforce compliance and prevent firearm sales to criminals. However, critics counter that punishing business owners for minor errors does nothing to stop illegal gun trafficking.

Why This Matters for the Second Amendment

The RIFLE Act is about more than just FFLs – it’s about protecting gun rights for all Americans. If gun store owners can be pushed out of business over paperwork errors, the long-term result will be fewer places for law-abiding citizens to purchase firearms legally.

More importantly, if the ATF is allowed to act unchecked, future administrations could expand their power further, leading to even stricter enforcement measures. The RIFLE Act aims to rein in the agency’s authority and prevent politically motivated crackdowns in the future.

Taking Center Stage

With the reintroduction of the RIFLE Act, the fight for gun rights takes center stage once again. Whether or not it passes, the bill highlights the ongoing battle between those who seek to preserve Second Amendment freedoms and those who push for stricter federal oversight.

For gun owners, business owners, and Second Amendment advocates, this legislation represents a crucial test of how far federal agencies can go in regulating firearms sales. As William Kirk pointed out, political winds change, and without strong legal protections, history can repeat itself.

A Powerful Legislative Push

If the RIFLE Act becomes law, it would mark one of the strongest legislative pushes against ATF overreach in recent history. If it fails, it could set a precedent for future administrations to crack down even harder on FFLs and gun rights in general.

One thing is clear: this battle is far from over.
To dive deeper into this topic, check out Rep. Mann’s press release here, and watch the full video on Washington Gun Law’s YouTube channel here, and on 2A NEWS NOW here.