Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, along with 15 state attorneys general and the District of Columbia Attorney General, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Maryland on Monday to stop a settlement between the Trump administration that would allow a device to convert a semi-automatic weapon into a machine gun.
The device is called a Forced Reset Trigger, and it allows a semi-automatic weapon, typically an AR-15, to fire at a faster rate.
It effectively turns the already dangerous weapon into a machine gun.
“A weapon that fires that rapidly, it allows you to hit multiple targets, and if it’s put in the wrong hands, and obviously, many people can be seriously injured.” Darnell Blackburn, Local 4’s Crime & Safety Expert, said.
The suit stems from a settlement between the Trump Justice Department and Rare Breed Triggers, a Texas-based company, that would allow for the sale of forced-reset triggers, which are illegal in the state of Michigan.
The company was previously represented by David Warrington, who is Trump’s current White House counsel.
During the Biden Administration, the triggers were confiscated, and the sale of the devices was banned.
This settlement reverses 50 years of precedent.
The settlement, which was reached on May 16, would require the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to return the triggers that had been previously seized or voluntarily surrendered to the government.
In a statement, Atty. Gen. Nessel said:
“Allowing forced reset triggers into Michigan could be devastating, and I will continue fighting to protect the safety of our residents, especially when the federal government refuses to.
The coalition will seek a preliminary injunction to halt the Trump Administration from distributing FRT devices in ways that directly harm Plaintiff States in contravention of federal law.”
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel
While this was seen as a victory for Second Amendment advocates, this could be bad news for law enforcement agencies across the country, including here in southeast Michigan.
Everybody has a right to bear arms. We understand that.
We are aware that in such cases, some individuals may obtain items legally while others may do so illegally.
These types of modified triggers can fall into the wrong hands.
“I mean, it’s a nightmare for police,” Blackburn said. “It’s a nightmare for the community, and it puts people at more risk.”
