The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has long been a lightning rod for controversy in the firearms community. For years, many gun store owners and federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs) complained that the agency had become more focused on punishing technical paperwork errors than targeting actual criminals. With Donald Trump now in his second term, some believe change has already arrived. Cam Edwards of Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co sat down with Eric Delbert, co-owner of LEPD Firearms and Range in Ohio, to take stock of how the ATF is operating today.
A New Era After the Biden Years
Cam Edwards opened the conversation by asking Delbert whether the ATF feels any different now that Trump is back in the White House. According to Delbert, the shift was noticeable almost immediately. One of the clearest changes was the end of the so-called Demand 2 program, which had singled out certain dealers for heightened scrutiny. Delbert said he received notice this spring that his store had been removed from the program, only to learn soon after that the program was abolished entirely.
The Demand 2 Program’s Flawed Legacy
Delbert explained that the Demand 2 program unfairly painted law-abiding gun stores as criminal suppliers. His shop was once listed in USA Today as a store tied to “crime guns.” But as Delbert told Edwards, those firearms weren’t sold to criminals – they were merely traced back after being stolen, transferred, or even held for safekeeping during a divorce. “We were dinged for things we had nothing to do with,” he said. For him, the program wasn’t about public safety – it was about stigmatizing dealers.
Cam Edwards: “This Was About Demonizing”
Edwards agreed, noting that the media and groups like Everytown for Gun Safety weaponized the list. Even though ATF spokespeople admitted being on it was not evidence of wrongdoing, the narrative spread that these FFLs were supplying criminals. Edwards pointed out the absurdity of even the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department appearing on the list, since for years they were the only licensed dealer in the city. To Edwards, this was proof the program was never about crime prevention but about demonizing lawful businesses.
Zero Tolerance Policies Under Scrutiny
The discussion then turned to the ATF’s infamous zero tolerance policy. Under the Biden administration, minor clerical errors could be treated as “willful violations,” threatening an FFL’s license. Delbert recalled cases in Ohio where shops faced revocation simply for accepting driver’s licenses that appeared expired during COVID. Although the governor had extended expiration dates by executive order, the ATF insisted they were invalid. “That craziness has hopefully gone away,” Delbert said, crediting Trump’s DOJ for pulling back on such punitive enforcement.
DOJ Pushback and Mixed Messaging
Edwards noted that while the Justice Department has said zero tolerance is over, groups like Gun Owners of America argue the administration hasn’t fully abandoned the legal claim that it could impose such policies again. Still, Delbert said his contacts inside ATF confirm that field agents have been told not to waste time pursuing the “ridiculous stuff” they were once forced to enforce. That change alone, he argued, has boosted morale among dealers and even ATF agents themselves.
Costly Battles for FFLs
Even though most shops he knew avoided losing their licenses, Delbert stressed the financial toll. Some dealers had to spend upwards of $10,000 on attorneys to fight accusations that ultimately went nowhere. “We’ll be on the front lines against bad FFLs,” Delbert emphasized, “but going after the good guys was a waste of time.” Edwards agreed, saying the prior approach drained resources from both the industry and law enforcement.
The Industry in Transition
Edwards also asked about the broader firearms market. Delbert acknowledged retail sales are down nationwide, with estimates ranging from a 15% to 20% decline. After more than five years of consistent million-plus monthly background checks, the streak has finally broken. But Delbert sees a silver lining: prices are stabilizing after the chaos of 2020, and a healthier balance may emerge as the economy recovers.
Training Still in Demand
While sales are down, Delbert said his range is still busy. Even though Ohio now has constitutional carry, his concealed handgun license (CHL) classes are once again filling up. “People are still out there training and participating,” he noted. This suggests that while purchasing slowed, public interest in firearms and safety training has not gone away.
Law Enforcement Market Shifts
Delbert also highlighted how law enforcement sales are keeping his business strong. In particular, the controversy around the SIG P320 has agencies looking to transition to other models. Administrators worry about liability if they stick with the P320 amid ongoing lawsuits and reports. Many agencies are now considering Glock, Smith & Wesson, or FN pistols instead. This shift, while tough on SIG, has kept Delbert’s law enforcement division busy.
A Promising Reset
From my perspective, what stands out is the sense of relief. Under Biden, the ATF seemed determined to make examples of FFLs for harmless mistakes. Now, under Trump, that adversarial approach appears to be softening. Delbert’s experiences show that oversight hasn’t disappeared – bad actors are still being targeted – but the hostility toward ordinary gun stores has eased. That’s the kind of balance most in the industry want: cooperation with law enforcement, not persecution.
Looking Ahead
As Edwards and Delbert both noted, it’s still early. The ATF’s policies could shift again, and court battles over its authority are ongoing. But for now, FFLs like Delbert are seeing real differences on the ground. With programs like Demand 2 gone and zero tolerance reined in, the relationship between dealers and regulators may finally be entering a healthier phase. Whether this lasts will depend on political winds – and whether the agency sticks to focusing on real threats rather than paperwork traps.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, John developed a love for the great outdoors early on. With years of experience as a wilderness guide, he’s navigated rugged terrains and unpredictable weather patterns. John is also an avid hunter and fisherman who believes in sustainable living. His focus on practical survival skills, from building shelters to purifying water, reflects his passion for preparedness. When he’s not out in the wild, you can find him sharing his knowledge through writing, hoping to inspire others to embrace self-reliance.
