FPC Fights Trump DOJ Effort to Gut Landmark Second Amendment Victory

Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed its opening brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Reese v. ATF, challenging the district court’s denial of complete relief after FPC prevailed against the federal age-based handgun and ammunition purchase ban.

The plaintiffs include FPC, the Second Amendment Foundation, and the Louisiana Shooting Association. The plaintiffs are represented by David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson, and William V. Bergstrom of Cooper & Kirk, PLLC, as well as George J. Armbruster III of Armbruster & Associates, APLC.

The brief was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, based in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Fifth Circuit already held that the federal age-based handgun ban is unconstitutional. On remand, the district court limited relief to the Fifth Circuit and to people who were members of the plaintiff organizations at the time of the order. But the Trump DOJ has gone even further, arguing that the plaintiffs should receive no meaningful injunction at all and that relief should be limited to a narrow, shrinking group of people. FPC filed this brief to secure complete relief for its members and prevent the government from continuing to enforce unconstitutional laws.

“The Trump Administration is fighting as hard as it can to continue violating the Second Amendment rights of millions of Americans. Even though the Fifth Circuit already held that these bans are unconstitutional, the government is trying to limit the decision’s reach so it can keep disarming peaceable adults across the country. This is how the United States government celebrates 250 years of American independence—by acting like the tyrants we defeated. FPC and our Grassroots Army will continue Fighting Forward until this ban is eliminated and the rights of all peaceable adults are fully restored.” — FPC President Brandon Combs