TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced Monday that he is spearheading a coalition of more than a dozen states to defend two key federal gun safety regulations enacted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), amid concerns the incoming Trump administration may abandon their enforcement.
The legal actions support the ATF’s nationwide ban on “Forced Reset Triggers” (FRTs), devices that illegally convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons, and defend the ATF’s “engaged in the business” rule, which expands background check requirements for firearm dealers under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
“Protecting our residents and combating gun violence has always been my top priority,” Platkin said in a statement. “We will fight devices that allow dangerous people to turn their guns into illegal military-style machine guns and fight to close the gun show loophole so that felons and domestic abusers can’t get their hands on weapons.”
New Jersey’s involvement comes in response to a Texas federal court ruling that blocked ATF enforcement of the FRT ban and ordered the return of seized devices by February 22, 2025. State officials argue that lifting the ban would lead to the widespread distribution of these devices, increasing the risk of mass shootings.
Governor Phil Murphy expressed support for the legal action, stating, “Our residents deserve to feel safe in every space they occupy, which is why we will continue to take all necessary actions to build on the progress we have made, keeping public safety at the forefront of our decisions.”
Joining New Jersey in the filings are Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
The coalition’s legal challenge aims to maintain federal safeguards against gun violence as political shifts threaten to weaken these protections.
