Welcome back to another episode of Gun Industry Insider—today is April 11, 2025. I’m your host, Ray Toofan. Today’s episode is packed with info for shop owners, reps, and gunsmiths. We’ll dive into the recent DOJ and ATF announcement scrapping the Biden-era "zero-tolerance" policy and reviewing other rules, a significant announcement for FFLs. Then, we’ll check out Canik’s new Mete MC9 Prime pistol, a compact 9mm with a nice suite of upgrades. Finally, we’ll cover the ATF leadership switch, with Daniel Driscoll stepping in for Kash Patel. If you’re in the trade, these are developments you can’t ignore—let’s get started.

First off with some news that just came out from the DoJ and the ATF. On April 7, they announced they’re dropping the Biden-era "zero-tolerance" policy. This was a major issue for FFLs. Under zero-tolerance, FFLs could lose their licenses over what many considered minor paperwork errors. Things like typos or missing dates were treated as serious violations, and it caused a lot of FFLs to either get shut down or just surrender their licenses rather than deal with the hassle.

If you’re unfamiliar, what was this "zero-tolerance" policy? It started in 2021 under Biden’s ATF and said that if an FFL committed even one willful violation—say, not running a background check or missing an acquisition or disposition entry—the ATF could revoke their license. For those at the ATF, it sounded fair, they wanted gun dealers to follow the law. But the reality was, it hit small businesses hard. The ATF began targeting errors that used to get a warning or a chance to fix, and instead, they’d pull the license. In 2023, they revoked 157 licenses, compared to 88 in 2022. That’s a noticeable increase, and it left a lot of shop owners anxious about their future.

This was a classic case of government overreach and gun control by any other means. A small mistake was treated like a purposeful attempt to break the law. Running a gun shop involves a lot of paperwork, especially if you’re dealing with a large volume of firearms coming in and going out, and it’s not hard to slip up. Before this policy, the ATF would usually help FFLs correct those errors. But under "zero-tolerance," one misstep could end your business. That shift upset a lot of people, especially since the old system worked fine for addressing honest mistakes.

Now, with the Trump administration in place, that’s changing. The DOJ and ATF said they’re scrapping the policy, which is a relief for everyone in the industry. FFLs won’t have to worry about losing everything over a clerical error anymore. The ATF is going back to how they used to handle things: if they spot a minor issue during an inspection, they’ll work with the business to fix it, not close it down. For small gun shops—many of which are family-run—that’s a huge benefit. They don’t have the resources to take on the ATF through a revocation hearing and possible legal battle.

There’s more to the announcement, though. The ATF is also reconsidering two other rules from the Biden years: the "Engaged in the Business" rule and the stabilizing braces rule. Let’s go through them.

The "Engaged in the Business" rule said that if you sold more than one gun, you might be seen as "engaged in the business" of selling firearms, so you’d need to get your FFL. It was vague—way too vague. That ambiguity was seen as just another way to force universal background checks, which Congress has turned down multiple times. The rule suggested that nearly anyone selling a gun, even privately—like to a family member or at a gun show—might need an FFL. That put regular people at risk of legal trouble, and it’s why so many objected to it. Seeing it up for review now is a welcome move for a lot of folks.

Then there’s the stabilizing braces rule. The ATF had said they were okay for years. But under Biden, they decided that adding a brace turned your pistol into a short-barreled rifle. And since SBRs fall under the NFA, you’d have to register it, pay a tax, and jump through extra hoops. Overnight, that rule put millions of gun owners in a tough spot, facing felony charges for something they’d been told was legal. And it also put a lot of retailers, gunsmiths, and manufacturers in a tricky situation about what to do with their existing inventory. Courts stepped in and the rule is currently under a nationwide injunction, but the fact that it’s now under review is significant.

What does this all mean for the firearms industry? The end of "zero-tolerance" takes a weight off FFLs. They can focus on running their businesses without dreading every inspection. Reviewing those other two rules also signals a shift away from what many saw as overreach. The NSSF called it a "major win" for gun owners. And it’s a fact—if FFLs struggle to stay open, it gets harder for people to buy guns legally. That ties directly to Second Amendment rights.

One other thing to watch: the NSSF wants the DOJ to implement the ruling letting FFLs use NICS to screen employees. It’s part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and this should have already been available to FFLs. But the government, as usual, has ignored the legislation and it’s likely going to take legal action to get the system in place.

Let’s move on to something fresh from Canik—they just announced the Mete MC9 Prime. This is a compact 9mm pistol with a 17+1 capacity, which is pretty impressive for its size. The barrel’s 3.64 inches, so it’s small enough for concealed carry but still delivers decent accuracy. What sets it apart is the integrally compensated slide and ported barrel. The result is a reduction in recoil, making it easier to handle, especially for a smaller gun. That’s not standard across Canik’s lineup, so it’s a feature worth noting.

The trigger’s another upgrade. It’s an aluminum flat-faced design with a 90-degree break—crisp, consistent, and a noticeable improvement over the usual polymer triggers in other Canik models. It gives the pistol a more premium feel. You also get Night Fision Tritium night sights included, which is not typical on their base models.

Then there’s the accessory package. It comes with two 17-round magazines, a G-Code holster that works inside or outside the waistband, three backstraps—one’s extended—a speed loader, tools, and a cleaning kit. The package is somewhat common with Canik pistols, and it’s nice for customers that are new to shooting. They won’t need to spend extra to get started, which makes it an easy sell.

Compared to something like the standard Mete MC9, this is a step up. The recoil management, trigger, and sights give it an edge, but it still fits Canik’s approach of keeping prices reasonable. It’s aimed at folks who want more features without jumping to a higher-priced brand. Right now wholesale on this pistol is around $500 without a red dot and around $675 with.

This pistol will attempt to strengthen Canik’s spot in the compact carry market, which is already very crowded. It’s got the performance and extras to appeal to a wide range of buyers, all at a price that’s hard to argue with.

 And finally, there’s been a change at the top of the ATF. Kash Patel, who was acting director, has been replaced by Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll. This was announced on Wednesday, and Driscoll was traveling in Europe when he got the news. He’ll now handle both jobs, staying on as Army Secretary while also running the ATF.

So, why did this happen? A source close to Patel said he wanted to focus on his role as FBI Director. Leading the ATF was never meant to be permanent for him, and he’s fine stepping back to concentrate on the FBI.

And who’s Daniel Driscoll? He’s from North Carolina, an Army veteran, and a venture capitalist. Trump picked him to be Army Secretary, and he’s also a senior advisor to Vice President JD Vance. He has real combat experience, having served with the 10th Mountain Division in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Patel’s stint at the ATF wasn’t smooth. When he started, Democrats challenged his appointment, pointing to his lack of management experience. That confirmation process got heated. Now, with Driscoll taking over, we’ll see how things play out at the ATF.

We’ve covered a lot today—the ATF’s policy shift easing up on FFLs, Canik’s new Mete MC9 Prime pistol with its premium upgrades, and the ATF leadership change with Daniel Driscoll stepping in. These aren’t just headlines—they could change how you stock your shelves, handle compliance, or plan for the future. Got thoughts or topics you’d like us to dig into? Email us at insider@gunindustryinsider.com or reach out on X at @GunInsider. Stay tuned for the next episode—we’ll bring you more updates that matter to your shop or sales calls. Thanks for listening. Until next time!