GOA’s Beef with DOJ Explained

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Gun Owners of America isn’t mad at the Department of Justice because it’s trendy. GOA is mad because DOJ keeps stepping on rakes, picking the rake back up, and then insisting it’s actually the most pro-rake department in history.

Under Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Department of Justice keeps insisting it’s a friend of the Second Amendment while actively acting like the guy who “supports your diet” by bringing donuts to every meeting. Lots of talk. Zero discipline.

GOA isn’t alone here. Across the gun-rights world, patience is wearing thinner than an ATF interpretation letter.

Groups, like Firearms Policy Coalition, Second Amendment Foundation, and National Association for Gun Rights, are all looking at DOJ and asking the same question: Why are you fighting us harder than the people who actually hate gun owners?

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The frustration really boils over with DOJ actively opposing GOA in its challenge to the National Firearms Act. DOJ’s argument boils down to a vague, squishy standard about “particularly dangerous weapons,” which sounds less like constitutional law and more like something scribbled on a whiteboard at a gun-control think tank in Berkeley.

When your legal theory could’ve been copy-pasted from California, something has gone very wrong.

Then there’s DOJ’s habit of trying to “moot” gun-rights cases instead of letting courts issue permanent rulings. That’s legal speak for “let’s quietly make this go away and hope nobody notices.”

DOJ says the ATF has turned over a new leaf, learned its lesson, and would never reoffend. That’s adorable. It’s also the legal equivalent of trusting the fox because he promised not to check on the henhouse anymore.

This strategy matters because temporary fixes don’t survive elections. Without binding court judgments, the next hostile administration can snap these policies right back into place like nothing ever happened.

DOJ knows this. Gun owners know this. Which makes DOJ’s behavior feel less like incompetence and more like deliberate foot-dragging.

The double standard is impossible to ignore. When the ACLU sued over Trump-era border policies, DOJ under Biden flipped sides instantly, agreed to an injunction, and cut a $6 million check for attorneys’ fees.

When GOA wins, DOJ suddenly forgets how settlement works and starts clutching the government checkbook like it’s their own wallet.

And let’s not forget DOJ’s role in the Reese v. ATF mess, where it tried to condition relief on gun-rights groups turning over membership lists. Because nothing screams “civil liberties” like asking advocacy groups to hand the government a roster of their supporters.

DOJ even argued that unconstitutional laws should keep being enforced against as many people as possible. That’s not a typo. That was the position.

At one point, DOJ seriously argued that only people who were members of gun-rights groups five years ago should benefit from a ruling protecting 18-to-20-year-olds. Which is impressive, because it manages to be legally absurd and temporally impossible at the same time.

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All of this raises an uncomfortable question: why does DOJ seem more interested in preserving bureaucratic power than locking in real 2A wins?

Because from the outside, it looks like DOJ wants gun owners stuck in a permanent election-cycle hostage situation (vote red or this all comes back) instead of actually fixing the problem.

That’s not what gun owners voted for. And it’s definitely not what “most pro-Second Amendment DOJ ever” is supposed to look like.

If Pam Bondi wants that title, the solution isn’t another press release or a symbolic office buried inside DOJ. It’s simple: stop fighting GOA and every other major gun-rights group in court. Work with them. Secure permanent rulings. Tie the ATF’s hands for good.

Because right now, DOJ isn’t acting like an ally. It’s acting like that friend who swears they’ve got your back, right before you hear them testifying for the other side.

And gun owners are done pretending not to notice.

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Larry Z

is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.

Experience:

– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.