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DOJ Drops Controversial NFA Charge Against Pardoned Jan. 6 Protestor

Monday, April 21, 2025

DOJ Drops Controversial NFA Charge Against Pardoned Jan. 6 Protestor

Last February, NRA-ILA’s reporting exposed the case of Taylor Taranto, a pardoned January 6 protestor separately arrested on firearm charges in Washington, D.C. One of those charges alleged possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle (SBR) under the National Firearms Act (NFA). The firearm in question was a CZ Scorpion EVO 3 S1 with an attached SB Tactical stabilizing brace, which would not have been considered an SBR until a 2023 rulemaking by the Biden-Harris administration reclassified potentially millions of braced pistols as SBRs. By the time of Taranto’s prosecution, that rule had been vacated by a federal judge in Texas. Yet the same Biden-era U.S. attorney who had charged Taranto for his presence at the January 6 protest insisted that the government could continue to prosecute Taranto under the rule’s terms as “ATF’s best understanding of the [underlying] statute.” On April 16, however, that U.S. attorney’s successor, Edward Martin, moved for dismissal of the NFA count against Taranto “in the interest of justice.”

What this move portends for the government’s position on braced pistols generally is not immediately clear. The Biden-Harris rule, Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached “Stabilizing Braces,” remains on the books, although its enforcement is still enjoined. The government’s former position in the Taranto case, however, tried to circumvent the court rulings prohibiting enforcement of the rule by claiming ATF still had the authority and mandate to enforce the NFA itself. And if the agency’s enforcement decisions “tend[ed] to look substantially like the determinations that would follow from applying the clear framework outline in the rule,” then so be it, the government argued in a brief. 

Taranto’s attorney had characterized this position in a court filing as “truly astonishing,” as well as “contradictory, unfair, and most importantly not legally sound.”

The arguments supporting the NFA charge had been raised by former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves, also known for aggressive pursuit of January 6 protestors, including those – like Taranto – charged with misdemeanors. Graves resigned on January 16, 2025, shortly before President Trump took office in his second term.

Although President Trump pardoned the January 6 protestors, Taranto remained in D.C. jail on the firearm-related charges. His tribulations in confinement have been extensively documented online, including his description of being confined to a cell with water seeping through the walls, resulting in continual mold growth and water on the floor. The obvious unhealthiness of these conditions, according to Taranto, is exacerbated by lack of light, long periods of confinement to the cell, lack of basic sanitation, and poor nutrition. It is unclear if Taranto will be released, as he still faces a pending felony count of carrying the CZ Scorpion in D.C. without a license, as required by District of Columbia law.

Ironically, although the NFA charge had required the government to argue the braced CZ Scorpion was a rifle, the charge under D.C. law simultaneously required it to argue the same firearm is a handgun.

The dismissal of Taranto’s NFA charge follows an April 7 announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice and ATF of a “comprehensive review of [the] stabilizing brace regulations.” This will involve “consultations with stakeholders, including gun rights organizations, industry leaders and legal experts,” with the goal of ensuring the resulting policies are “constitutional and protective of Americans’ Second Amendment rights.”

The position former U.S. attorney Graves had taken in Taranto’s case with respect to the NFA charge obviously would not have survived this kind of scrutiny, and it is commendable the government appears to have recognized as much. NRA-ILA’s original reporting, and subsequent efforts by other pro-gun groups, including Gun Owners of America and the Firearms Regulatory Accountability Council, undoubtedly contributed to this outcome.

We will report on further developments of the government’s ongoing review of the braced pistol rule, as well as on Taranto’s remaining charge, as they become available.

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U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

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Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

U.S. Representative Suggests TRIPLING ($600) Suppressor Tax!

News  

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

U.S. Representative Suggests TRIPLING ($600) Suppressor Tax!

Excellent news for gun owners came last week when the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, which includes the complete removal of suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA). 

Florida: Governor DeSantis Signs Legislation to Remove 2A Restrictions During Emergencies

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Florida: Governor DeSantis Signs Legislation to Remove 2A Restrictions During Emergencies

Yesterday, May 28, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 6025 into law protecting our Second Amendment Rights during a state of emergency. The new law became effective upon the governor's signature.  

Illinois: Gun Control Bill Advances to House Floor

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Illinois: Gun Control Bill Advances to House Floor

On Wednesday, the House Gun Violence Prevention Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 8, a sweeping gun control measure that expands mandatory firearm storage requirements and drastically increases penalties for law-abiding gun owners. SB 8 ...

Illinois: Legislature Advances Sweeping Gun Control

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Illinois: Legislature Advances Sweeping Gun Control

Yesterday, the Illinois House passed House Bill 850, legislation that drastically alters the definition of “clear and present danger” under the FOID and Concealed Carry License (CCL) framework. This bill now moves to the Senate ...

ATF Invites FFLs Zeroed Out Under Biden-Harris to Reapply

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Tuesday, May 27, 2025

ATF Invites FFLs Zeroed Out Under Biden-Harris to Reapply

Among all the infringements of the Second Amendment perpetrated by the Biden-Harris regime, one of the most punitive and consequential was ATF’s “zero tolerance” enforcement policy for Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs). 

Not Your Father’s ATF: Agency Pledges Reform, Distances Itself from Biden-Harris Era

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Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Not Your Father’s ATF: Agency Pledges Reform, Distances Itself from Biden-Harris Era

A headline on the website of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives appeared late in the day on May 21: “ATF Launches New Era of Reform.” According to the accompanying announcement:

Texas: Pro-Gun Legislation Heading to the Governor's Desk!

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Texas: Pro-Gun Legislation Heading to the Governor's Desk!

This week, the Texas House and Senate passed several important pro-Second Amendment bills. These bills had previously passed their respective bodies and now head to Governor Abbott’s desk for his consideration.  

Trump Administration Revives Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Provision

News  

Friday, March 21, 2025

Trump Administration Revives Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Provision

On March 20, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published an interim final rule entitled, Withdrawing the Attorney General’s Delegation of Authority. That bland title belies the historic nature of the measure, which is aimed at reviving ...

House Judiciary Committee Prepares to Advance Key Second Amendment Legislation

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Friday, March 21, 2025

House Judiciary Committee Prepares to Advance Key Second Amendment Legislation

The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH-04), is planning to hold a legislative markup on March 25, 2025 at 10 am EST.  The Committee will be considering several bills during this markup, two ...

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NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.