Erich Pratt, senior vice president of Gun Owners of America (GOA), has sounded an alarm that has many in the pro-Second Amendment community scratching their heads. In a recent GOA broadcast, Pratt made it clear that while the Trump administration has delivered important wins for gun owners, there are areas where the Department of Justice is still pushing against them in court.
A Record of Victories
Pratt, speaking on behalf of GOA, praised the Trump administration for its strong record so far. He pointed to actions like rolling back restrictive Biden-era regulations, pulling the United States out of international gun control treaties, and appointing judges who respect the Second Amendment. He also mentioned that the administration has taken steps to dismantle some of the weaponized policies that were heavily used during Biden’s time.
Three Battles That Won’t Go Away
Despite these accomplishments, Pratt said that GOA finds itself in a surprising position. “For the third time since President Trump took office, GOA is still in court fighting one of his agencies,” Pratt explained. He then detailed the three specific areas where this battle continues: the Michigan concealed carry permit case, the “engaged in the business” rule, and the zero tolerance policy that once gutted gun dealers.
Michigan Concealed Carry Case
The first battle involves a Michigan case tied to concealed carry permits. According to Pratt, Biden’s ATF had interfered with the long-standing recognition of Michigan permits as an alternative to a federal background check. The Trump DOJ offered a temporary administrative fix, which solved the problem for now. Pratt argued, however, that a fix that can be undone by a future administration isn’t good enough. “A President Harris or Newsom could reverse it in a day,” Pratt warned. This case shows why GOA insists on permanent protections.
The Fight Over “Engaged in the Business”
The second fight involves the ATF’s controversial “engaged in the business” rule. Pratt reminded supporters that Biden’s ATF wanted to force nearly all private gun sales and transfers into a background check and registration system. GOA sued and won a preliminary injunction that blocked the rule from applying to their members. Biden’s administration appealed the injunction, and now the case is stuck. Pratt said bluntly, “If the current DOJ would simply withdraw the appeal, the district judge could give us a ruling. And we’re confident that ruling would strike this policy down.”
Zero Tolerance: A Policy Repealed But Not Gone
The third legal battle centers around the ATF’s zero tolerance policy, a heavy-handed program that yanked federal firearms licenses from small dealers over even minor paperwork mistakes. Pratt reminded viewers that this policy started during Biden’s term and was weaponized to drive businesses out of existence. GOA sued after one of its plaintiffs, Morehouse Enterprises, was targeted while already tied up in another ATF-related lawsuit.
What Changed Under Trump
Pratt said that GOA’s pressure worked. In April 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi and acting ATF director Kash Patel officially announced that the Trump administration was rescinding the zero tolerance policy. Pratt described this as “a major Second Amendment win” and credited grassroots lobbying, legal filings, and relentless behind-the-scenes work. The ATF is now allowing previously revoked dealers to reapply for licenses under fairer guidelines.
But GOA Says It Isn’t Enough
Even though this policy has been repealed, Pratt said the DOJ still refuses to settle the lawsuit with GOA and make the repeal permanent. “This reeks of voluntary cessation,” Pratt explained, referring to a legal term that describes when a defendant halts bad behavior temporarily so a court won’t rule against them. Pratt said this is not good enough because history shows the ATF can change course as soon as a new president takes office.
ATF’s Ever-Changing Rules
In his report, Pratt described the ATF as a regulatory roller coaster, noting that its revocation policy has changed five times in five years. He argued that without a permanent court decision, nothing stops another anti-gun president from turning the zero tolerance rule back on overnight. Pratt said this pattern shows why gun owners cannot trust informal policy changes and why GOA must press ahead with the lawsuit.
Recent Good News Shows What’s Possible
Pratt also noted one bright spot: the DOJ’s recent decision to drop its appeal in Mock v. Bondi, a lawsuit that struck down the ATF’s pistol brace ban. A Texas judge had already ruled the ban unconstitutional, and the DOJ’s withdrawal made that ruling final. Pratt said this decision proves the DOJ can cooperate when it wants to. “So why won’t they do the same for us on these other fights?” he asked.
Why This Matters
This report, based entirely on Pratt’s detailed statements, highlights a strange contradiction. The Trump administration has made itself a pro-gun ally in many ways, yet parts of its DOJ still fight cases that could deliver long-term victories for gun owners. Pratt warned that if permanent protections are not locked in now, a future president can reverse course in a matter of days. That risk, in his view, is unacceptable.
A Rare Opportunity
What makes this situation fascinating is the tension between political allies. On one hand, the GOA applauds the administration for its sweeping reforms. On the other hand, they’re unwilling to compromise when it comes to permanent protections. This push and pull shows how gun rights groups see a rare window to secure victories that might last decades. There’s also an interesting lesson in how policy can swing wildly with each election cycle, leaving constitutional rights in a constant state of uncertainty.
The Cost of Delay
From a broader perspective, what Pratt describes feels like a race against time. Every month these cases sit in limbo, legal bills pile up, and opportunities slip away. Whether or not someone agrees with GOA’s hardline stance, the idea of letting policies flip back and forth like a light switch is troubling. Pratt’s words remind us that lasting legal clarity, not quick administrative fixes, is the only real way to protect individual rights in the long term.
Final Push From GOA
Pratt closed his broadcast with a call to action. He asked GOA members to contact Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Trump administration to support settling these cases and making the victories permanent. “If we don’t push now,” Pratt said, “future administrations will undo it all.” For now, the battles continue, and the question remains: why is Trump’s DOJ still fighting gun owners on these three fronts?
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.
