Sixteen states have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding its proposal to permit the sale of forced-reset triggers, which enable semiautomatic rifles to fire at an increased rate, and return devices seized from their owners.
The lawsuit, which was announced on Monday, argues that the return of the triggers would violate federal laws, endangering both residents and law enforcement personnel, as well as potentially worsening gun violence. The suit was filed in a federal court in Maryland.
There had been several legal battles over the devices, which replace the typical trigger on an AR-15-style rifle. The Biden administration had previously argued the triggers qualify as machine guns under federal law because constant finger pressure on the triggers will keep a rifle firing, essentially creating an illegal machine gun.
Rare Breed Triggers, the manufacturer of the devices, says that the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) misclassified them and disregarded requests to cease sales of the triggers before being sued by the Biden administration.
The US Justice Department announced a deal last month with the company, permitting the sale of forced-reset triggers. Previously, the company was represented by David Warrington, who currently serves as Trump’s White House counsel.
As per the settlement, the company has agreed to refrain from manufacturing the devices for handguns, according to the US Justice Department.
The settlement also requires the ATF to return triggers that were either confiscated or voluntarily surrendered by their owners to the government.
The lawsuit initiated by the states is being spearheaded by the attorneys general from Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey.
Other participating states include Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia.
All attorneys general from these states are affiliated with the Democratic Party, although the office in Hawaii is officially nonpartisan.
