By Dave Workman
COMMENTARY – The return of Donald Trump to the White House has had a remarkable impact on policy, from a reversal of four years of political warfare on the Second Amendment by the Joe Biden administration, to the launch of a Second Amendment Enforcement Task Force.
Trump immediately set the tone of his administration within 48 hours of his inauguration by abolishing Biden’s White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention—a not-so-thinly-disguised White House gun control effort—and by moving to make good on campaign promises to gun owners.
His announcement that the Trump White House would protect the Second Amendment in February caused anti-gunners heartburn. In his statement, the president ordered the Attorney General to review:
- All Presidential and agencies’ actions from January 2021 through January 2025 that purport to promote safety but may have impinged on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens;
- Rules promulgated by the Department of Justice, including by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, from January 2021 through January 2025 pertaining to firearms and/or Federal firearms licensees;
- Agencies’ plans, orders, and actions regarding the so-called “enhanced regulatory enforcement policy” pertaining to firearms and/or Federal firearms licensees;
- Reports and related documents issued by the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention;
- The positions taken by the United States in any and all ongoing and potential litigation that affects or could affect the ability of Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights;
- Agencies’ classifications of firearms and ammunition; and
- The processing of applications to make, manufacture, transfer, or export firearms.
According to Wikipedia, during his first 100 days back in the Oval Office, Trump signed 143 executive orders. Border protection was restored and beefed up.
Confirming this administration means business where gun rights are concerned, the DOJ has already initiated an investigation of alleged foot dragging on concealed carry applications by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.
And in the midst of everything else, the Biden administration’s plan to reintroduce grizzly bears into the North Cascades of Washington state appears to also have been put on hold.
Under the previous administration, gun owners were treated like second-class citizens, and the right to keep and bear arms was treated like a government-regulated privilege.
Essentially, Trump spent much of his first 100 days reviewing and reversing policies of the Biden administration, which still has many people wondering who was actually in charge for the past four years, because it did not seem like President Biden was aware of what was going on much of the time.
On Monday, Rasmussen reports released new polling data showing 45 percent of likely voters believe the nation is headed in the right direction. One year ago at this time, only 29 percent said the country was heading in the right direction, while 65 percent said it was on the wrong track.
Workman is editor-in-chief of TheGunMag.com, a firearms news publication of the Second Amendment Foundation.
