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Fifteen states seek to block return of seized rapid-fire devices for guns |
Fifteen Democratic-led U.S. states will urge U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Greenbelt, Maryland, to block the Trump administration from returning nearly 12,000 seized devices capable of converting semiautomatic rifles into weapons that fire like machine guns. Here’s what to know: |
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The states filed the lawsuit in Baltimore federal court following a May 16 settlement by the Trump administration, which resolved litigation over a Biden-era ban on certain "forced-reset triggers." The Biden administration had classified some of these devices as illegal machine guns under the National Firearms Act. Read the complaint.
- The coalition, led by New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, argues the devices remain illegal under federal law. "We will not stand by as the Trump administration attempts to secretly legalize machine guns in an effort to once again put firearms industry profits over the safety of our residents," New Jersey AG Matthew Platkin said.
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The settlement resolved lawsuits brought by gun rights advocates challenging the ban and cases filed by Biden's DOJ against a manufacturer of the devices, which had led to conflicting court rulings.
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Under the agreement, the Trump administration pledged not to apply the ban to devices not designed for handguns and to return the seized triggers to their owners. Read the settlement here.
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Also in the coalition are Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia. Read more.
| Court calendars are subject to last-minute docket changes. |
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