DOJ Backs Down From Major “Ghost Gun” Lawsuit

In what Second Amendment advocates are calling a major win, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reversed its legal position in a high-profile ghost gun case, New York v. Arm or Ally. As reported by Gun Owners of America (GOA) on X, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s new Second Amendment Task Force formally withdrew the DOJ’s prior support for pursuing this lawsuit. The decision marks a sharp departure from the DOJ’s earlier stance, where it had sided with the state of New York in suing several gun parts retailers under a Biden-era interpretation of federal law.

From Attack to Retreat

According to Jared Yanis, host of Guns & Gadgets, this lawsuit originally targeted several major gun companies and retailers – including Brownells, Primary Arms, and 80% Arms – for selling so-called “ghost guns.” These are unfinished firearm parts or kits that individuals can legally assemble at home. Yanis emphasized that the DOJ had aggressively backed the case until public pressure and political shifts forced a reconsideration. “It is insane to sue people for something that was considered legal at the time,” Yanis said.

The VanDerStok Ruling’s Ripple Effect

At the center of this legal drama is the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Bondi v. VanDerStok, a case that dealt directly with the ATF’s ghost gun rule. Initially, the DOJ tried to use the VanDerStok ruling to justify its stance in New York v. Arm or Ally. But GOA criticized this move as ex post facto punishment, arguing that gun companies were being targeted for conduct that was lawful at the time of sale. Ultimately, after Bondi’s task force reviewed the case, the DOJ changed course – agreeing that the rule should not be used to retroactively penalize firearm businesses.

Pam Bondi’s Task Force Strikes

This legal reversal is one of the first major actions taken by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Second Amendment Task Force, which was created following President Trump’s February 2025 executive order titled Protecting Second Amendment Rights. As highlighted by GOA and multiple gun rights outlets, the task force was specifically designed to audit and roll back anti-gun initiatives that were still in motion within federal agencies. This move appears to show that the task force means business.

Langley Outdoors Academy: “This Deserves Accolades”

Braden Langley, host of Langley Outdoors Academy, praised the DOJ’s reversal as a “huge win for freedom.” In his words, “This deserves accolades. This is what we’ve been asking for – concrete action, not just talk.” Langley noted that this is the third reversal in short order by a DOJ attorney since Bondi’s task force began reviewing Second Amendment litigation. He also pointed out that GOA and grassroots pressure campaigns played a vital role in making this happen.

A Pattern of Rogue Bureaucracy

GOA and Langley both drew attention to what they described as “rogue bureaucrats” – holdovers from the Biden administration – who continued to pursue aggressive anti-gun litigation even after new leadership had taken over. These lawsuits, Langley said, were not just about enforcing the law but about using regulatory ambiguity to punish lawful gun commerce. “Weaponizing VanderStok like this against gun companies was never what that case was meant to support,” he emphasized.

Public Pressure Made the Difference

Yanis and Langley both agreed that pressure from GOA members, gun rights activists, and the broader 2A community was crucial to getting the DOJ to change its mind. Letters, videos, and social media campaigns flooded the conversation, making it clear that these lawsuits were politically toxic. “They respond when we apply pressure,” Yanis reminded his viewers. “You have to stay loud and keep the heat on.”

DOJ’s Official Letter to Withdraw

The DOJ’s change in position was made official in a supplemental letter brief submitted to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. In the letter, DOJ attorneys acknowledged that while the Supreme Court’s ruling in VanderStok clarified certain regulatory matters, it “should not serve as a basis for punishing gun manufacturers” for past actions that were lawful under ATF policy at the time. The letter also stated the DOJ would move to withdraw as a party in the case if it is remanded to district court.

Ghost Guns and Legal Ambiguity

The case also highlights the ongoing confusion and controversy surrounding the term “ghost guns.” While critics call them untraceable and dangerous, supporters argue that they are just unfinished parts kits, legal to own and assemble under federal law – at least, until recent regulatory overreach. GOA’s stance has been clear: Americans have always had the right to build their own firearms, and turning that into a crime retroactively is both unconstitutional and unfair.

A Rare Win Worth Celebrating

It’s easy to get jaded watching the steady stream of anti-gun regulations and lawsuits that seem to flow unchecked. But this time, something different happened. The system blinked. The DOJ actually backed off, admitted its error, and chose not to pursue a case that had no moral or constitutional ground to stand on. That kind of reversal isn’t just unusual – it’s unheard of in today’s political climate.

And it gives me hope. Hope that pressure works. Hope that common sense still has a seat at the table. And hope that when the people push back hard enough, even the biggest institutions have to listen. I don’t expect miracles from any administration, but seeing Pam Bondi’s task force actually doing something, something good, is a breath of fresh air.

A Turning Point?

Whether this marks a real shift in DOJ policy or just a one-off correction remains to be seen. But it’s a sign that momentum might finally be swinging back in favor of gun owners. GOA, Yanis, and Langley all agree: this is not the time to relax. If anything, it’s time to double down. Keep writing letters, keep filing lawsuits, keep pushing back. Because this victory? It didn’t come from nowhere. It came from you.

The Fight Isn’t Over, But This Round Goes to Freedom

The withdrawal of DOJ support in New York v. Arm or Ally is a significant and symbolic win for gun rights advocates. It proves that the tide can be turned – and it shows that strategic resistance, combined with grassroots pressure, still matters. As GOA, Jared Yanis, and Braden Langley have all emphasized, this isn’t the end of the fight – it’s just a hard-earned victory in one battle of a much larger war over the future of the Second Amendment.