Attorney General Kris Mayes Withdraws Arizona From Lawsuit Challenging ATF Rule

PHOENIX – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes today announced Arizona's withdrawal from a multistate lawsuit, led by Arizona and West Virginia, which challenged an effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to regulate so-called “Ghost Guns.”

“I believe this Rule is within the ATF’s authority and provides much-needed regulation of ghost guns, which have proliferated in recent years and have made law enforcement’s job more difficult and dangerous,” said Attorney General Kris Mayes.

The ATF Rule modernizes the definition of “firearm” to make clear that privately made firearms and so-called “ghost guns” are included.  Specifically, among other changes, the definition now includes parts kits that can easily be assembled into functional weapons.

The Brnovich administration filed the lawsuit in July 2022. Arizona and other parties who joined the lawsuit were unable to get an injunction in District Court and appealed to the Eighth Circuit, where the case is now pending. 

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