Trump orders DOJ not to fight ruling that loosened limits on "gangster weapons," sources say

President Trump ordered the Justice Department not to appeal a court ruling that loosened restrictions on certain highly regulated firearms, often referred to as "gangster weapons," such as short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and silencers. This decision came despite concerns from some within the Justice Department who believe it undermines federal firearms prosecutions and the department's duty to defend laws enacted by Congress. The ruling, issued in August 2021 by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, a Trump appointee, declared most restrictions under the National Firearms Act unconstitutional, except for two categories of specialized firearms. Since its enactment in 1934, the National Firearms Act has required detailed applications, fingerprinting, and registration for these weapons.