Why Trump Was & Will Be the Most Pro-2A President Since Reagan (That Includes Bump Stocks)

Opinion

When the chips were down, and the anti-gun Left came roaring with everything they had—from hysterical media campaigns to endless bills aimed at gutting your rights—one man stood like a fortress between American gun owners and a full-blown legislative apocalypse: Donald J. Trump.

And no, he didn’t just wave a red flag, fire off some tweets, or give fiery speeches at NRA rallies (though he did that too, and masterfully, and the NRA recognized Trump as the greatest political friend gun owners have ever had). He straight-up reshaped the entire judiciary into a pro-2A powerhouse, fortified the Second Amendment through smart policy moves, and held the line against radical gun-grabbers where weaker leaders would’ve folded like a cheap lawn chair.

While 2A purists love to screech “bump stocks!” like it’s some gotcha moment that erases everything else, the real defenders of freedom—those who actually understand strategy over soundbites—know better:

Trump was, is, and will continue to be the most pro-2A president America has seen since Ronald Reagan. The numbers, the judges, the legal wins, and the sheer volume of protections he locked in prove it beyond a shadow of doubt.

Trump’s Judicial Revolution: A Permanent Pro-Gun Firewall

Let’s kick this off with the biggest, most ironclad victory that keeps paying dividends long after he’s out of office: the courts. Trump didn’t mess around—he appointed three solid Supreme Court justices: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. These picks were pivotal in the landmark 2022 New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen decision, where the Court struck down New York’s draconian “may-issue” concealed carry laws that treated gun rights like a privilege for the elite.

This wasn’t just some symbolic pat on the back—it completely rewrote the legal playbook for evaluating gun regulations, demanding they align with America’s historical traditions instead of whatever feel-good nonsense anti-gun activists dream up. The ripple effect? A tsunami of successful lawsuits dismantling unconstitutional state-level gun laws across the country, from assault weapon bans to magazine limits, with courts upholding Second Amendment challenges at a higher rate than ever before (source).

But Trump didn’t stop at SCOTUS. His broader judicial legacy is a beast, in his first term: 234 federal judges confirmed, including a record-shattering 54 to the appellate courts, flipping circuits that were once gun-control playgrounds into bastions of liberty. These Trump appointees are already delivering knockout blows—striking down age-based handgun purchase bans for adults under 21 (source), torching outdated machine gun restrictions, and defending core 2A rights with a vigor that outpaces even other Republican picks. And we have only just started with Judicial appointments in his third ..uh I mean 2nd term.

The Reagan Comparison

Sure, Reagan blessed us with Antonin Scalia, the intellectual giant whose influence echoed in the 2008 Heller decision that affirmed individual gun rights. But let’s be real—Trump’s first term blew past Reagan’s legacy in both volume and velocity. Reagan appointed four SCOTUS justices and about 378 federal judges over two terms, but Trump’s picks have accelerated 2A victories at warp speed, with Bruen alone triggering more gun law takedowns in a few years than we saw in decades prior. And there are more Judicial appointments to come!

Policies That Mattered: Trump’s Pro-Gun Action Record

Fix NICS: Smart Reform, Not Control
Trump wasn’t about flashy overhauls that could backfire—he played it smart. Take the Fix NICS Act he signed in 2018: This law beefed up the National Instant Criminal Background Check System by requiring federal agencies to upload more disqualifying records, like mental health adjudications and domestic violence convictions, ensuring prohibited folks couldn’t slip through the cracks. But crucially, it didn’t create any new restrictions on law-abiding owners or expand the system. ATF had that covered with its creepy digital registry (source).

Defending Gun Shops During COVID
Remember when blue-state tyrants tried to exploit the COVID panic to shutter gun stores and ranges as “non-essential,” treating your right to self-defense like it was optional? Trump’s administration wasn’t having it—they swiftly declared firearms retailers, manufacturers, and ranges as essential critical infrastructure, putting them on par with grocery stores and pharmacies to keep them open nationwide.

Executive Orders Reinforcing 2A
Trump wielded the pen like a sword for gun rights. In his first term, he directed agencies to scrub regulations that infringed on 2A, and he doubled down in 2025 with an executive order explicitly protecting Second Amendment rights (source).

The Red Flag Panic? Another Myth
Trump floated some comments about red flag laws after Parkland in 2018, suggesting they could help address mental health threats. Cue the freakout from absolutists. But here’s the reality: There was zero federal red flag law enacted—no executive action, no DOJ mandate, nada (source).

Let’s Talk About the Bump Stock Ban

Alright, let’s address the elephant in the room that short minded critics obsess over: Yes, Trump’s ATF issued a 2018 rule reclassifying bump stocks as machine guns under existing law after the heartbreaking Las Vegas shooting (source). But here’s the strategic truth the purists conveniently ignore: That targeted administrative move was a calculated play to head off a panicked Congress from rushing through sweeping legislation that could’ve redefined all semi-automatic rifles, due to only to their accessories, as machine guns, opening the floodgates to bans on AR-15s and beyond.

And guess what happened next? In 2024, the Supreme Court—bolstered by those very Trump-appointed justices—overturned the bump stock ban in a 6-3 ruling, declaring the ATF overstepped and reaffirming that only Congress can redefine firearms like that. Trump’s judges saved the day, and now you can buy BumpStocks online, booyaa.

Pro-2A Voices Back Trump, Loud & Clear

#2A #Trump Trump was the best President we have had on the Second Amendment since before FDR. He gave us SCOTUS picks Gorsuch, ACB and Kavanaugh (see Bruen victory) plus lots of other good judges who are now ruling in favor of 2A by applying Bruen and Heller. Trump spoke… https://t.co/JdvgMM74DV

— Mark W. Smith/#2A Scholar (@fourboxesdiner) March 28, 2024

When Trump won a second term, I was mainly relieved Kamala wouldn’t be President. I didn’t expect much on 2A besides some more good judges, though I hoped for more.

Ironically, the Trump admin has been spectacular on 2A so far. They’ve already done more than any other admin on…

— Kostas Moros (@MorosKostas) June 27, 2025

Trump just stood up for the Second Amendment in a Univision town hall.

He didn’t curtail his messaging, put on an accent or pander — he spoke his mind and explained the importance of our Constitutional right. Amazing. pic.twitter.com/7VJxFz1s8d

— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) October 17, 2024

These aren’t isolated cheers; they reflect a chorus from veterans, 2A scholars, and smart activists who see Trump’s record as a bulwark against erosion.

Final Word: Real Leadership Means Real Results

Trump didn’t pander to the cheap seats or chase perfection in a flawed world. He stacked the judiciary with 2A guardians, safeguarded gun access during crises, preempted disastrous laws, and sparked a renaissance of legal victories that keep rolling in. That’s not just leadership—that’s a legacy etched in stone.

You can holler about bump stocks, rage-tweet in all caps about Pragmatists, or swear off voting altogether—but the truth doesn’t bend to feelings or hypotheticals.  The Constitution doesn’t give you a right to throw temper tantrums when you don’t get your way.

Trump fought for gun owners, won big, and the record? It’s ironclad proof.

Bump Stock Boondoggle, Don’t Blame Trump – Blame LaPierre

Trump and Bump Stocks: Shrewd Strategy or Fortuitous Improvisation?