Labrador welcomes the policy but asks Congress to make it permanent
Raúl LabradorIdaho attorney general, in a signed public letter
Labrador says nonenforcement benefits gun owners and urges legislation because a future administration could reverse it.
“This is a welcome change after more than 90 years, although the National Firearms Act remains law. A future Department of Justice could easily reverse the ATF’s recent policy. If enforcement resumes, the ATF has warned that unregistered items could again carry serious federal penalties. Until Congress acts, the relief gun owners won in this case depends on the instructions the next administration gives its lawyers. I’m urging Congress to make this change permanent and put it beyond the reach of a future administration.”
Official statement
Other statements by Raúl Labrador in this case
- Raúl Labrador welcomes nationwide ATF nonenforcement as a victory for gun ownersEarlier: Defended or excused
Where this statement fits
Was ATF right to stop enforcing registration requirements for silencers and short-barreled guns?
ATF announced on October 9, 2026 that it would stop enforcing specified National Firearms Act registration and approval requirements for silencers, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and certain other weapons. The agency says the change avoids unequal treatment under a court injunction covering particular plaintiffs and their members or customers. The NRA and Second Amendment Foundation welcome it. Everytown for Gun Safety condemns the decision as a threat to community safety. The question is whether ATF was justified in extending non-enforcement nationwide, beyond the people covered by the court order.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Labrador discusses his office's litigation, welcomes the policy and warns that a later administration could reverse it.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Labrador describes the litigation and notes that background checks and applicable state laws remain.
After the quotation
He credits the states' challenge with limiting federal authority and says his office will continue Second Amendment litigation.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The matter under scrutiny is ATF's nationwide NFA nonenforcement policy. Labrador welcomes it and seeks to preserve the relief through legislation.
- Recorded on
- Published here
More from this case
Read the full caseAmbler rejects descriptions of unregulated purchases
“It's just, it's frankly not true.”Read statement
Stocking and coauthors say the policy is discretion, not settled law
“The industry as a whole and individuals should treat this new policy as a discretionary posture, not settled law.”Read statement
Cekada says voluntary NFA forms preserve access in states that require them
“We were just trying to make sure that the decision we made to uphold the court's decision in the Northern District of Texas would be applied to the broadest group of American people that we could, and we didn't want to inadvertently infringe upon anyone's rights.”Read statement
Share or embed this statement
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the statement page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Labrador welcomes the policy but asks Congress to make it permanent
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/6682-labrador-says-nonenforcement-benefits-gun-owners-and-urges
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Labrador welcomes the policy but asks Congress to make it permanent". First published: 2026-10-24. Last updated: 2026-10-24. https://disputeindex.com/events/6682-labrador-says-nonenforcement-benefits-gun-owners-and-urges