Defense Distributed v. Blanche
| Defense Distributed v. Blanche | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Court | United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas |
| Full case name | Defense Distributed, et al. v. Todd Wallace Blanche, et al. |
| Decided | August 2026 |
| Docket nos. | 4:22-cv-00691-O |
| Holding | |
| ATF Frame or Receiver Rule held unconstitutional under the Second Amendment and void for vagueness under the Fifth Amendment; permanent injunction granted for the plaintiffs. | |
| Court membership | |
| Judge sitting | Reed O'Connor |
Defense Distributed v. Blanche is a 2026 decision of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas that has national implications. The court held that provisions of the ATF’s 2022 Frame or Receiver Final Rule are unconstitutional.[1][2]
Background
In April 2022, the ATF created 2022 Final Rule changing the definition of "Frame or Receiver" and regulate partial frames. They added new criteria to the definition that included partially complete, disassembled, or nonfunctional frame or receivers.[3] According to Reuters, The judge blocked the rule from being enforced against Defense Distributed as well as the Second Amendment Foundation's members with respect to some of the company's products.[4]
District court decision
Chief Judge Reed O'Connor of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas granted the plaintiffs' motion for summary judgement on constitutional claims under the Second Amendment being inconsistent with the Bruen framework and void for vagueness under the Fifth Amendment, and granted permanent injunctive relief.[5][6]
References
- ↑ "Judge sides with Defense Distributed over gun 'frame or receiver' rules". KPVI. The Center Square. August 18, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
- ↑ "SAF WIN: JUDGE RULES BIDEN ERA ATF FRAME AND RECEIVER RULE UNCONSTITUTIONAL". Second Amendment Foundation. August 18, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
- ↑ Bishop, Greg (August 18, 2026). "Judge sides with Defense Distributed over gun 'frame or receiver' rules". Yahoo News. The Center Square. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Biden-era 'ghost guns' restrictions are unconstitutional, US judge rules". Reuters. August 18, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Defense Distributed v. Blanche" (PDF). Second Amendment Foundation. August 2026. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
- ↑ "'Ghost gun' rule deemed unconstitutional by Texas federal judge". The Hill. August 19, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026.