|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Guy Page
Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark June 9 announced her office has joined a coalition of 16 state attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit against the Trump Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) over plans to redistribute thousands of previously seized machine gun conversion devices known as Forced Reset Triggers (FRTs).
Like the ‘bump stock’ lawsuits and court decisions, the lawsuit raises once again the constitutionality of devices purported to deliver a higher rate of fire.
The legal action, filed in federal court, challenges a recent settlement agreement by the ATF—signed under direction from the Trump Administration—that halts enforcement of federal restrictions on FRTs and directs the agency to return thousands of the illegal devices to the public. FRTs, which can enable semiautomatic firearms to fire at fully automatic rates, have previously been classified by the ATF as machine guns, which are banned under federal law.
Attorney General Pam Bondi affirmed the settlement as backed by the Second Amendment, and said it also will enhance public safety.
“This Department of Justice believes that the 2nd Amendment is not a second-class right,” said Bondi. “And we are glad to end a needless cycle of litigation with a settlement that will enhance public safety.”
In June 2024, in Cargill v. Garland, the Supreme Court held that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) exceeded its statutory authority by issuing a rule classifying a bump stock as a “machinegun.” In July 2024, the Northern District of Texas applied Cargill v. Garland to a device called a “forced-reset trigger” (FRT) and concluded that FRTs also cannot be classified as a “machinegun.”
The Department’s agreement with Rare Breed Triggers avoids the need for continued appeals in United States v. Rare Breed Triggers and continued litigation in other, related cases concerning the same issue. The settlement includes agreed-upon conditions that significantly advance public safety with respect to FRTs, including that Rare Breed will not develop or design FRTs for use in any pistol and will enforce its patents to prevent infringement that could threaten public safety. Rare Breed also agrees to promote the safe and responsible use of its products.
“The Trump administration’s decision to distribute illegal machine gun conversion devices in our communities will make us less safe,” said Attorney General Clark. “I am filing this lawsuit to prevent the implementation of this potentially disastrous directive from the Trump administration.”
The lawsuit argues that the ATF’s reversal is a clear violation of the National Firearms Act and the Gun Control Act, both of which prohibit the civilian possession of machine guns or devices that convert weapons into machine guns. FRTs allow rapid, continuous fire with a single sustained trigger pull—exceeding the firing rate of many military-grade automatic weapons, with the ability to discharge up to 20 rounds per second.
According to ATF data cited in the lawsuit, use of such conversion devices has increased dramatically, with a 1,400% spike in machine gun fire incidents between 2019 and 2021. Law enforcement agencies nationwide have increasingly encountered FRTs at crime scenes, including in cases of mass shootings and gang violence.
The lawsuit comes in the wake of conflicting federal court rulings on the legality of FRTs. While a New York judge affirmed that FRTs fall under the federal machine gun ban, a Texas judge ruled otherwise, creating a legal gray area. The Trump Administration’s recent settlement, announced on May 16, effectively nullifies enforcement efforts by the ATF and dismisses pending appeals—steps the plaintiff states say subvert federal law.
The coalition is seeking a preliminary injunction to stop the distribution of the devices while the case proceeds. In addition to Vermont, the states participating in the lawsuit include Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
The coalition argues that the settlement not only violates established gun laws but also poses an immediate threat to public safety. “This is not just a legal issue—it’s a public safety crisis in the making,” Clark added.
Discover more from Vermont Daily Chronicle
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: Gunrights
This is why we the people of VT must vote out AG Charity Clark in 2026. She is wasting our tax dollars to fix roads to sue Donald Trump for doing the right thing. Anyone that has a self defense incident against a dangerous person should worry about AG Charity Clark putting you in jail.
A.G. Clark’s ignorance as to what constitutes a “machine gun” is telling. That is why the attempt to classify “bump stock” equiped self loading/semi-auto firearms was over turned .
This “Public Servant” wouldn’t know the difference between a “Man Killer Pea Shooter” is or her nose. Another paid for Soros recipient programmed to obey her handler. Anything conservative is a target.
““The Trump administration’s decision to distribute illegal machine gun conversion devices in our communities will make us less safe,” said Attorney General Clark.””
AG Clark, please give on all violent incidents that have occurred with these devices being used…I won’t hold my breath.
“”Law enforcement agencies nationwide have increasingly encountered FRTs at crime scenes, including in cases of mass shootings and gang violence.””
Please list ALL cases in VT, also since there is apparently NO gang activity here, (just ask anyone in media or justice) I guess we’ve got nothing to worry about.
Charity likes to waste tax payers money on law suits that make no sense. These are not machine gun kits. Thery help reset the trigger so another round can be fired quicker. He ignorance is amazing!
What’s next, RPGs?
…That was supposed to be sarcastic, but Google says they’re already legal!
Apparently AG Clark believes that all of Vermont’s drug dealers, scammers, robbers, killers and all other assorted criminals are under control and she has nothing else to do but engage in meaningless lawsuits. So thankful that we have such dedicated civil servants.
AG Clark, was given talking points from leftist goons, apparently she dosen’t have a clue about she’s talking about, and we pay her $150k per yr.
One would think she would do a little home work on the matter at hand , before jumping into another Trump law suit, this shows ” TDS ” flourishes in her liberal mind, and this is the best we could hire, remember every frivolous lawsuit, will cost you, the taxpayer $$$
If the Democrat ‘if we can save one life’ crowd unfortunately doesn’t see that saving lives by controlling and vetting who crosses our borders and stays here works better than making laws criminals won’t follow anyway
If we could save one life argument, could be fun. There is only one person who has ever done this. Could make for interesting discussion.
If AG Clark only knew what can be done with downloads, a WEDM and additive mfg. in a home, basement shop, she would crap herself. It’s the 21st century sweetheart and any kid in shop class be Sergeant Blain Cooper.
Save your resources for the bad guys. There’s plenty to keep you busy.
These lawsuits courtesy of the party (Obama, Biden, Eric Holder, Loretta Lynch, Susan Rice, Janet Napolitno, John Brennan, James Comey, Robert Mueller) who carried out Operation Fast and Furious. [a highly criticized ATF operation that allowed firearms to be sold illegally to suspected straw buyers with the goal of tracing them to Mexican drug cartels. The operation backfired, with the firearms ending up in the hands of criminals, leading to the death of US Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. The operation was a major scandal that led to investigations, disciplinary actions against ATF personnel, and changes in Justice Department policies.] We now see those weapons and those cartels turned loose on us on our streets. Well done hombres!
Our AG is a good little doggie – pat her empty head and throw her a biscuit.
Vermont is not suing Trump, please we don’t need to add fuel to their dumpster fire.