ATF Quietly Walks Back Gun Denials After Years of Abuse

 ATF Quietly Walks Back Gun Denials After Years of Abuse

ATF has issued an Interim Final Rule revising the federal definition of “unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance” under 27 CFR 478.11—directly tied to the firearm prohibition in 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3). This matters for gun owners because the previous definition allowed NICS denials based on single-incident “inferences,” including a single admission of drug use, a single positive drug test, or a single misdemeanor drug conviction in the prior year. ATF now says the definition must require evidence of regular, ongoing use over an extended period, and it removes the old examples that triggered automatic denials. In this video, we break down the proposed changes, what it means for Second Amendment rights, how NICS background checks may change, and why ATF itself acknowledges constitutional concerns with the old approach. Stay informed, stay engaged, and protect your rights.