Trump ordered DOJ not to appeal ruling loosening gun limits, sources say

# Why This Matters This directive represents a significant shift in federal gun policy that could reshape firearms regulation across the country for years to come. By declining to appeal a ruling that loosens restrictions, the Trump administration is effectively endorsing a broader interpretation of Second Amendment rights, which will likely embolden legal challenges to existing gun laws in other jurisdictions—from assault weapon bans to waiting periods to licensing requirements. States with stricter gun regulations may find their laws invalidated in court, creating a patchwork where some Americans face far fewer obstacles to purchasing certain weapons than others, while public health advocates argue this will increase gun violence and complicate efforts to implement uniform safety standards. The decision also signals to lower courts that the administration won't vigorously defend the gun regulations that remain on the books, essentially handing momentum to Second Amendment maximalists and potentially accelerating the judicial dismantling of restrictions that have stood for decades.