Skip to main content

Gun and Trigger Company Says They Won't Comply with ATF Cease-and-Desist Order

The president of a Florida-based gun and trigger company released a recorded statement on August 20, 2021, saying his company will not be complying with a cease-and-desist order issued by the ATF in late July.

According to the cease-and-desist letter issued on July 26, the ATF alleged that Rare Breed's FRT-15 Trigger was actually a machine gun, and the agency ordered Rare Breed Triggers to halt production and sales, and create a plan to address the triggers that had already been sold and distributed.

In the video, Lawrence DeMonico, president of Rare Breed Triggers, says his company will not be complying with the order by the federal agency and lays out his case for why they are choosing to civilly disobey the order.

According to DeMonico, contrary to the ATF’s allegations, DeMonico says the fact of the matter is that the FRT-15 cannot fire more than one round by a single function of the trigger. That’s important to note, because that is probably the most pertinent portion of the definition of a machine gun as defined by the Gun Control Act and National Firearms Act, DeMonico says.

Beyond making the case for why they would not be complying, DeMonico says the company immediately responded to the ATF’s cease-and-desist order to inform them that they did not agree with the ATF’s claim. Additionally, DeMonico says they have also followed up by filing a lawsuit in the United States Federal Court for the Middle District of Florida.

“To put it simply, our trigger is not a machine gun as the ATF alleges, and we have complied fully with the law throughout the manufacture and production of this product,” DeMonico said. “What’s dangerous is that the ATF is no longer just enforcing the law, but starting under the Trump administration and continuing through the Biden administration, the ATF and other agencies which are supposed to enforce the law, now believe that they can reinterpret and change the law, whenever it suits their desires.”

According to the complaint, Rare Breed Triggers sought the opinion of four independent experts, which provided testimony stating that the FRT-15 is not a machine gun. According to DeMonico, it’s important to note that all of these witnesses are renowned firearms experts. They have even testified countless times on behalf of the ATF in the past and they all have acknowledged that the FRT-15 is not in fact a machine gun as defined by federal law.

“We’re going to see this through, because this is a fight to protect not only the second amendment, but really all of our freedoms,” DeMonico said. “We’re seeing more and more examples of our government’s agencies acting without the authority to do so, and far too few seem to be standing up for our freedoms.”

Current Magazine Cover

Enjoy articles like this?

Subscribe to the magazine.

Get access to everything Guns & Ammo has to offer.
Subscribe to the Magazine

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Optics

Red Dots for Rimfires

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Optics

Setting Scope Eye Relief

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: IWB & Closed-Front Garments

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: AIWB Accuracy

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: One-Hand Operations

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: Holster Placement

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Accessories

Learn About Handgun Retention with New Safariland Holsters

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Rimfire

CCI Uppercut .22 LR Ammunition for Self-Defense

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Accessories

Caldwell VelociRadar Chronograph

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Handguns

Canik TTI Combat: Full Review

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Industry

Interview: Doug Hamlin, NRA's New CEO

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Optics

HIVIZ FastDot H3 Handgun Sights

Guns and Ammo Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Guns & Ammo App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Guns & Ammo stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Guns & Ammo stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use