ATF Reverses Course After Denying NFA Applications for Wanting to “Exercise God-Given Rights”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has finally done what common sense and the Constitution demanded all along: approve the previously denied or voided Form 1 applications that sparked outrage in the gun community. NFA applications have been denied for answers to box 4 I with language that referenced constitutionally protected activity as a legitimate reason for possessing NFA items. In a stunning reversal, the agency has now approved the forms, including those rejected for constitutionally grounded purpose statements such as “exercise my God-given rights” and “for all lawful purposes, including justifiable homicide.” According to reports, the ATF has acknowledged they “should have never been denied” in the first place.
This development comes amid the post-tax era ushered in by the One Big Beautiful Bill, which zeroed out the $200 NFA tax on suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and any other weapons (AOWs) effective January 1, 2026. With the revenue justification gutted, the ATF’s remaining registration regime was already on shaky ground, considering ongoing litigation like Silencer Shop Foundation v. Bondi (the “One Big Beautiful Lawsuit” backed by Gun Owners Foundation (GOF), Gun Owners of America (GOA), and allies). These approvals signal a retreat from the arbitrary enforcement that plagued early 2026 submissions.
Two outright denials where applicants cited intent to “exercise God-given rights,” were deemed “insufficient” by ATF examiners, despite no statute requiring a specific “acceptable” purpose beyond lawful use.
A third case involving an initial approval (dated January 25, 2026) for an SBR build was later voided during “routine quality control” because the purpose statement, “FOR ALL LAWFUL PURPOSES INCLUDING JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE,” wasn’t palatable enough. The email from Supervisory Legal Instruments Examiner Shannon Siviero instructed resubmission, treating honest self-defense language as disqualifying.
Many on the gun rights side of the argument claim these weren’t clerical slip-ups; it was blatant viewpoint discrimination. The ATF effectively punished applicants for refusing to sanitize their Second Amendment motivations into bland bureaucratic talk like “target shooting” or “hunting.” Such actions violated principles of due process, the Administrative Procedure Act’s (APA) ban on arbitrary-and-capricious agency conduct, and the core holding of Bruen: regulations on arms must align with historical tradition, not subjective agency whims.
That error was only corrected because angry gun owners applied overwhelming pressure. Most people who are unjustly denied never get that opportunity.
The real solution is simple: abolish the NFA and your entire unconstitutional agency along with it. https://t.co/lwHA8660LH
— National Association for Gun Rights (@gunrights) February 10, 2026
Now that approvals have been issued across these cases, the ATF tacitly admits the error. This isn’t just a win for the affected individuals. It is vindication for every law-abiding gun owner frustrated by the NFA’s remnants. Suppressors protect hearing and reduce noise; SBRs offer maneuverable, customizable platforms ideal for home defense and sporting use. Neither poses the “dangerous and unusual” threat Pam Bondi’s DOJ once claimed in court filings. Criminal misuse of registered NFA items remains vanishingly rare, according to ATF’s historical data.
This reversal exposes the fragility of the post-tax NFA regime. Without the taxing-power crutch upheld in Sonzinsky, registration becomes an unconstitutional infringement, a national gun registry that exceeds Congress’s enumerated authority and lacks a historical analogue under Bruen. The surge in Form 1 filings (over 150,000 in the first day of 2026 alone) overwhelmed the system, leading to hasty denials and voids that the agency now walks back. It reeks of panic: approve everything to avoid more bad press and stronger legal challenges.
From a pro-gun standpoint, this is progress, but not victory. Approvals don’t erase the infringement. They reveal the needless bureaucracy of fingerprints, photos, forms, and months-long waits. Law-abiding citizens shouldn’t need a bureaucratic blessing to exercise a pre-existing right. The Founding Fathers didn’t file Form 1s to shorten musket barrels for home defense.
These cases bolster arguments in Silencer Shop Foundation v. Bondi and similar suits: strike down registration for untaxed items entirely. Push Congress for full repeal via the Hearing Protection Act (HPA) or SHORT Act. Demand ATF reforms to prevent future flip-flops.
ATF’s correction of its errors is significant. It could signify positive changes from the top. Based on conversations AmmoLand News has had with sources inside the ATF, the top brass appears to want to change to be less hostile to gun owners, but with many entrenched bureaucrats, the change will not be overnight. The fight will continue until the Second Amendment stands unencumbered, no permission slips, no arbitrary rejections, no “acceptable” phrasing required. Rights are not negotiable. Celebrate this win, double the effort to permanently end the imposed tyranny of the National Firearms Act.
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About John Crump
Mr. Crump is an NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people from all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons, follow him on X at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
