What states have banned forced reset triggers?
Asked by: Chance Kertzmann | Last update: February 2, 2026Score: 5/5 (2 votes)
Several states have banned or severely restricted forced reset triggers (FRTs), including California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, with many of these states actively suing the federal government to prevent the return of such devices. These bans often classify FRTs as illegal "machinegun" components, despite federal rulings, meaning possession or sale can lead to felony charges in these jurisdictions.
Are FRT triggers going to be banned?
Forced Reset Triggers (FRTs) face a complex legal situation: a 2024 federal ruling invalidated the ATF's ban, but individual states (like MN, CA, MA) have their own bans that remain in effect, and the federal government reached a 2025 settlement allowing some sales while restricting handgun use, so they aren't universally banned, but legality depends heavily on your location and specific model, with ongoing legal challenges.
Can the ATF take my FRT?
Yes, the ATF can take your Forced Reset Trigger (FRT) if they determine it's an illegal machine gun, but their stance has been complicated by legal settlements, especially with Rare Breed Triggers (RBT), where they agreed not to enforce machine gun prohibitions for specific RBT models under certain conditions, leading to return programs for eligible owners, though possession remains prohibited in states where local law bans them.
Are FRT triggers legal in Georgia in 2025?
A: In Georgia and under federal law, aftermarket triggers are generally lawful so long as the part does **not** convert the pistol into a fully automatic weapon or otherwise create a regulated NFA item; federal law makes it illegal to manufacture, possess, or transfer parts intended to create a machinegun.
Is freedom finger FRT legal?
Freedom Finger (FRT) triggers are in a legal gray area, with the ATF previously trying to ban them as machine guns, but recent court rulings (like NAGR v. Garland) have found specific models (like Rare Breed's FRT-15) not to be machine guns under federal law, allowing sales, though many states still ban them or regulate FRTs, so legality depends heavily on your state laws and the specific device. While federal law currently permits some FRTs after legal challenges, states like California, Minnesota, and New Jersey have their own bans on these devices, making them illegal locally.
FRT Update: Now Legal?
Why are foregrips a felony?
In an open letter sent to Federal Firearms Licensees in April 2006, the ATF stated their interpretation of the law: that installing a vertical forward grip on a handgun is the same as manufacturing an Any Other Weapon (AOW) category firearm and subject to registration and taxation, with significant penalties for ...
What gun can I put an FRT in?
In May, the Trump administration agreed to settle three lawsuits involving Rare Breed Triggers, effectively legalizing forced-reset triggers (FRTs) for AR-15s and other semi-automatic firearms, as long as the company agreed “to not develop or design FRTs for use in any handgun,” defined in the agreement as “a firearm ...
What's the shortest barrel you can legally have on a shotgun?
A shotgun is a firearm subject to the NFA if the shotgun has a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length. A weapon made from a shotgun is also a firearm subject to the NFA if the weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches or a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length.
Are FRT triggers legal to own in every state?
As of now, forced-reset triggers remain legal under federal law. The ATF no longer treats them as machine guns. However, state laws vary widely. Some states still classify FRTs as prohibited devices or heavily regulate their sale and use.
What is the most gun-friendly state?
There isn't one single "most" gun-friendly state, as rankings vary, but New Hampshire, West Virginia, Montana, Arkansas, and South Dakota consistently appear at the top for lenient laws, permitless carry (constitutional carry), and lack of sales tax on firearms, with strong protections like "stand-your-ground" laws. These states offer broad rights for lawful gun owners, with New Hampshire often cited as #1 due to its combination of permitless carry for ages 18+, no sales tax, and self-defense protections.
Can the ATF just show up to inspect your firearms?
Except for limited permit holders, any ATF officer may, without a warrant, enter during business hours the premises, including places of storage, of any licensee or permittee for the purpose of inspecting or examining any records or documents required to be kept by the law and regulations and any explosive materials ...
Is FRT legal in Texas?
Yes, Forced Reset Triggers (FRTs) are generally legal in Texas as of mid-2025 due to a federal settlement where the DOJ dropped its ban, following a Texas federal court ruling that the ATF's ban was unlawful, though some states have their own bans, and the situation's complexity requires checking both federal and state laws.
Can I put a stock on my AR pistol 2025?
Can I put a stock on my AR pistol? No, attaching a stock to an AR pistol effectively converts it into a rifle. If the firearm has a barrel shorter than 16 inches, it is then classified as a Short-Barreled Rifle (SBR) under the National Firearms Act (NFA), requiring a $200 tax stamp and ATF Form 1 registration.
Are 80% lowers legal in 2025?
Yes, 80% lowers are generally still legal to buy and build in 2025, as federal law doesn't regulate them until completed, but legality hinges on specific state laws, with states like California imposing strict serialization, registration, and background checks on finished builds, while the Supreme Court's 2025 ruling upheld ATF rules affecting parts kits (especially for pistols) but didn't ban standalone AR lowers, keeping the focus on state-level compliance.
What states ban binary triggers?
Binary trigger bans exist in states like California, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington, though Washington's ban excludes possession, and Minnesota's 2024 ban was recently struck down by a judge but may be appealed, making the legal landscape dynamic and dependent on specific state laws and ongoing legal challenges**. These devices, allowing two shots per trigger pull (one on pull, one on release), face restrictions as states attempt to regulate them, often after high-profile incidents.
Can I own a 16 ar 15 with pistol brace?
Very simply put, yes. As of 2025, federal courts have permanently vacated the ATF's 2023 rule, confirming that braced pistols are fully legal without NFA registration or tax stamps. For those who want to use braces, modern options like the SBA5 represent the best designs yet. We discuss that brace and more below.
Are FRT triggers legal in 2025?
In that 2025 settlement, the U.S. Department of Justice agreed not to enforce a ban on FRTs made by one company, even returning 12,000 of them to their owners last year. But it contained a key provision: an agreement that the company would not "market, advertise or encourage ... FRT triggers on any handgun."
What is the hardest state to own a gun in?
Hawaii is the #1 worst state for gun owners due to strict purchasing and carry laws, as well as defying the Supreme Court on the individual's right to carry. Massachusetts is the #2 worst state for gun owners due to its permit-to-purchase and reciprocity laws.
Can I bring my shotgun across state lines?
Yes, under federal law, individuals can legally transport firearms if they are legally allowed to possess them in both the origin and destination states, and the firearm is transported unloaded in a locked case.
Why is it illegal to saw off the barrel of a shotgun?
Sawed-off shotguns are heavily regulated and often illegal because their short barrels make them easily concealable, highly effective for close-range crimes, and historically popular with criminals, leading to federal restrictions like the National Firearms Act (NFA) that classify them as Short-Barreled Shotguns (SBS), requiring registration, tax stamps, and adherence to specific length requirements (under 18-inch barrels or 26-inch overall length). While not inherently more powerful than standard shotguns, their concealability and effectiveness in violent crime, especially during the gangster era, drove these regulations to curb illicit use, though specific laws vary by state.
Is it legal to cut a shotgun barrel to 18.5 inches?
Under the National Firearms Act (NFA), it is illegal for a private citizen to possess a sawn-off modern smokeless powder shotgun (a shotgun with a barrel length shorter than 18 inches (46 cm) or a minimum overall length of the weapon, total, including the 18-inch minimum barrel, of under 26 inches (66 cm)) (under ...
Can I legally buy a FRT trigger?
As a result, an FRT cannot be owned, sold, offered for sale, manufactured, imported, given away, or lent in California according to Penal Code section 32900.
What is the freest gun state?
There isn't one single "freest" gun state, as rankings vary, but New Hampshire, West Virginia, Arkansas, Montana, and South Dakota are consistently ranked among the most gun-friendly due to permissive laws like constitutional/permitless carry, strong self-defense protections (Stand Your Ground), and lack of sales tax on firearms. Other states often cited for lenient laws include Arizona, Wyoming, Alaska, Utah, and Mississippi, though some recent political shifts in states like Arizona have impacted their rankings.
What gun is known for jamming?
Guns known for jamming often include early versions of the M16/AR-15 (especially in wet/dirty conditions), the M60 machine gun (due to extraction/latch issues), some cheap .22 caliber pistols like the Zip22 (dubbed the "Jam-O-Matic"), and certain handguns like the Walther P22, often due to ammunition, maintenance, or design flaws. While some classic designs like the 1911 can jam, it's often linked to maintenance or weak ammo, whereas unreliable budget guns suffer more frequent issues.