Merrick Garland on Gun Control

As United States Attorney General, Merrick Garland has taken visible action to advance gun control measures, primarily through the Department of Justice's (DOJ) regulatory authority. His core position centers on utilizing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to close perceived loopholes in the Gun Control Act of 1968, most notably regarding unserialized 'ghost guns.' He directed the ATF to issue a proposed rule within 30 days to ensure that unfinished frames and receivers, often sold in kits, are treated as firearms, requiring serial numbers and background checks for purchase [cite: 1.6].

Garland's actions have been framed as necessary responses to the current gun violence epidemic, often contrasting his enforcement stance with legislative inaction in Congress. Beyond ghost guns, he announced efforts to regulate pistols modified with stabilizing braces, intending to classify them as short-barreled rifles subject to registration, and pledged to publish model legislation for states to adopt extreme risk protection orders, or 'Red Flag Laws' [cite: 1.6]. Furthermore, he has launched gun trafficking strike forces in multiple cities and directed an updated study of criminal gun trafficking to account for modern manufacturing methods [cite: 1.8]. This regulatory approach has drawn criticism from some lawmakers who argue the DOJ is overstepping its authority to enact partisan gun control measures [cite: 1.10].