Donald Trump Jr. could benefit from a proposed firearms policy introduced by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), although both he and company executives insist he had no role in shaping the measure.
Trump Jr., who serves as a board member and shareholder of online firearms retailer GrabAGun, helped take the company public last year. The retailer, often described as the “Amazon of guns,” could see significant gains if the proposed regulation is approved, as it would allow licensed dealers to ship firearms directly to eligible buyers’ homes under certain conditions.
If adopted, the proposal would mark one of the biggest shifts in U.S. gun policy in nearly 20 years. Industry executives, firearms dealers and gun-control advocates interviewed by Reuters said the move could dramatically expand online gun sales.
Under the proposal, licensed firearm dealers would be permitted to deliver guns directly to buyers living in the same state after completing online identity verification, a background check and a mandatory seven-day waiting period. Dealers would also be required to notify local law enforcement before shipment. Current federal rules require most online buyers to collect firearms from licensed gun stores, where they undergo face-to-face background checks unless they already possess a qualifying permit.
The proposal has divided the firearms industry. Some gun shop owners and gun-control organizations argue that home delivery of firearms could increase security risks, encourage illegal gun purchases and hurt small, locally owned gun stores that rely on in-person transfers.
The rule could also boost GrabAGun’s business. Trump Jr. owns more than 300,000 shares in the company, currently valued at over $700,000, though the stake was worth more than $5 million last year before the company’s stock declined.
Andrew Surabian, a spokesperson for Trump Jr., dismissed suggestions that the president’s son influenced the proposal.
“Don is a lifelong businessman and a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights,” Surabian said. “He has no involvement with the federal government through any company he advises or invests in and played no part in this decision.”
GrabAGun Chief Executive Officer Marc Nemati also said neither he nor Trump Jr. had advance knowledge of the ATF proposal. While the company is still assessing how the rule could affect its roughly $100 million annual business, Nemati previously said GrabAGun is well positioned to benefit if the regulation takes effect.
Home delivery seen as a major growth opportunity
The ATF estimates that nearly 3.3 million Americans, about half of all firearm buyers, could eventually choose home delivery if the rule is finalized. Several industry figures told Reuters they believe actual demand could be even higher because of the convenience of online shopping.
ATF Chief Counsel Robert Leider said he led the team responsible for drafting the proposal, describing it as an effort to modernize firearm sales in line with other industries. The agency estimates consumers could collectively save more than $100 million each year through reduced travel and processing time.
Leider said he was unaware of Trump Jr.’s ties to GrabAGun until Reuters raised the issue and stressed that the president’s son had no influence over the proposal. He also declined to comment on whether the White House participated in drafting the rule.
The White House said it had no record of any discussions involving Trump Jr. on the issue. The proposal is one of 34 deregulatory measures introduced by the ATF following President Donald Trump‘s February 2025 executive order aimed at expanding access to firearms.
Marianna Mitchem, a senior firearms industry adviser at Everytown for Gun Safety and a former ATF official, said such a proposal had never been requested during her years at the agency.
“ATF always says the gun store is the first line of defense in gun safety,” Mitchem said. “Now they’re reversing that approach.”
Retailers welcome convenience as critics raise concerns
Founded in 2010, GrabAGun has become one of the country’s largest online-focused firearm retailers. Although traditional outdoor retailers also sell guns online, analysts believe companies with strong digital operations could benefit most if direct home shipping becomes legal.
Trump Jr. became closely associated with GrabAGun during its stock market debut last year through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger that raised $119 million. The SPAC was backed by 1789 Capital, where Trump Jr. is a partner.
Since then, GrabAGun shares, which trade under the ticker PEW, have lost about 85% of their value. Reuters said it could not determine the reasons behind the sharp decline.
When promoting the company last year, Trump Jr. defended online firearm sales by pointing out that purchases were still delivered to licensed gun stores rather than directly to buyers’ homes. He argued the online model would appeal to younger customers and women who might be uncomfortable visiting traditional gun shops.
“People buy everything online,” Trump Jr. said during an appearance on Fox Business.
Gun shop owners fear financial and safety impact
The proposal remains open for public comment until early August and may not be finalized until late 2026 or early 2027. Federal officials could still revise or withdraw it.
Gun-control organizations, including Everytown, Brady and Giffords, argue that allowing millions of firearms to be delivered directly to homes could increase mail theft, illegal trafficking and straw purchases, where someone legally buys a firearm for a person who is prohibited from owning one.
Giffords spokesperson Aneesa McMillan said online retailers cannot reliably determine whether buyers intend to pass firearms to someone else.
Meanwhile, the proposal comes as the U.S. Postal Service considers ending its century-old prohibition on mailing handguns.
Justin Anderson, director of online sales at Hyatt Guns in North Carolina, acknowledged that his company would likely offer home delivery if the rule is approved. However, he said physical stores currently provide an important safeguard by interacting directly with customers before handing over firearms.
Smaller gun dealers also worry about losing business. Many rely on transfer fees, typically around $30 per firearm, for processing online purchases delivered to their stores. Those visits often generate additional sales of ammunition, accessories and other equipment.
Chrystal Santos, who manages operations at Bow & Barrel Sportsmen Center in Missouri, opposed the proposal in comments submitted to the ATF.
She said experienced staff can often detect suspicious buying behaviour that digital verification systems may miss.
“It opens a whole can of worms,” Santos said. “Places like GrabAGun make it much harder for smaller shops like ours.”
Leider defended the proposal, arguing that the new verification process would be more secure than many current retail transactions.
“The people who are worried about straw purchases often have an idealized view of how in-store sales actually work,” he said, adding that some physical gun stores serve as little more than paperwork processors.
