The acting attorney general has promised relief from Biden-era gun rules, but Texas gun owners should demand permanent action — not a more efficient ATF.
Todd Blanche is one step closer to becoming the next United States attorney general.
On August 4, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Blanche’s nomination on a 12–10 vote, sending it to the full Senate for consideration. Blanche has served as acting attorney general while also holding the position of deputy attorney general.
But gun owners should not mistake a nomination vote for a Second Amendment victory.
The real question is what Blanche will do with permanent control of the Department of Justice — and whether his administration will dismantle federal gun-control machinery or simply manage it more carefully.
ATF Rollbacks Are Only a Beginning
Blanche has already joined ATF Director Robert Cekada in announcing 34 proposed and final regulatory actions aimed at reducing burdens on lawful gun owners and firearm businesses.
DOJ says the package will update rules that no longer reflect current law, court precedent, or agency practice. It also says the changes are designed not to interfere with ATF’s continuing enforcement mission.
Repealing Biden-era abuses is necessary.
Rules that expanded ATF’s authority, changed legal definitions, burdened firearm dealers, and threatened gun owners with criminal penalties should be eliminated.
But a temporary rollback is not the same as restoring a constitutional right.
The same agency will remain in place. The same federal gun-control statutes will remain available. And the same regulatory infrastructure could be turned against gun owners the moment political control in Washington changes.
Texas Gun Rights warned about this danger when Blanche and Cekada first announced ATF’s “new era of reform.”
A quieter, more disciplined ATF may attract less public opposition, but it can still enforce the National Firearms Act, maintain firearm-record systems, and provide the next anti-gun administration with the machinery needed to revive abandoned policies.
Gun Owners Need Measurable Action
Blanche should be judged by concrete results.
Will DOJ permanently withdraw Biden-era rules that exceeded ATF’s lawful authority?
Will it stop treating shifting agency interpretations as substitutes for laws passed by Congress?
Will it oppose federal policies that turn firearm records into the foundation for tracking lawful gun owners?
And will the department support Congress in repealing the National Firearms Act and dismantling ATF?
An attorney general cannot repeal federal statutes alone. That power belongs to Congress.
But the attorney general controls federal litigation strategy, agency priorities, regulatory actions, and many of the enforcement decisions that directly affect gun owners.
That gives Blanche substantial power to determine whether DOJ continues defending the federal gun-control establishment — or begins working to take it apart.
Texas Senators Should Demand Commitments
With Blanche’s nomination headed to the Senate floor, Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz should demand clear Second Amendment commitments before confirmation.
General promises to “protect gun rights” are not enough.
Texas gun owners deserve to know whether Blanche will end abusive regulatory practices, oppose unconstitutional restrictions, prevent ATF from rebuilding a national gun-owner tracking system, and support the permanent repeal of federal gun-control laws.
Rolling back bad rules is worth doing.
But those rollbacks must not become an excuse for preserving the agency that imposed them.
Todd Blanche’s nomination presents an opportunity for a major change in direction at the Justice Department. Whether that opportunity produces lasting results will depend on what happens after the speeches, hearings, and confirmation votes are over.
Texas Gun Rights will judge Blanche’s tenure by the federal gun-control powers his department helps eliminate — not by how smoothly ATF operates under new management.
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