Last year, Donald Trump Jr. helped take an online gun retailer, dubbed the “Amazon of Guns,” public. Now that the president’s son is a shareholder and board member of GrabAGun, the company could benefit from proposed rule changes that would make it easier to ship guns directly to people’s homes.The proposal from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would allow licensed dealers to ship firearms to in-state buyers who would complete online identity verification and background checks and then have a seven-day waiting period after notifying local law enforcement. Currently, online buyers must pick up their firearms at a brick-and-mortar store and undergo an in-person inspection unless they have a license.If finalized, the rule could be one of the biggest shifts in U.S. gun policy in two decades. Industry officials, store owners and gun control advocates say that could fuel a significant increase in online gun sales.
Trump Jr. stakes and denies involvement
Trump Jr. holds more than 300,000 GrabAGun shares, worth more than $700,000, but down from more than $5 million last year. When the company went public through a merger, he became its face, bringing in $119 million in revenue. The SPAC is backed by 1789 Capital, where Trump Jr. is a partner.A spokesman for Trump Jr. said the president’s son had no role in the ATF proposal. “Don is a lifelong businessman and an outspoken advocate for our Second Amendment rights. As part of his responsibilities with any company he invests in or advises on, he does not interact with the federal government and had zero involvement in this particular decision.”GrabAGun CEO Marc Nemati told Reuters that neither he nor Trump Jr. knew the proposal was coming. The company is still analyzing the potential impact on its $100 million in revenue. But Nemati said in a May press release: “We believe GrabAGun is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this potential opportunity.”
ATF projects half of gun buyers may switch to home delivery
The ATF estimates that half of gun buyers—nearly 3.3 million people annually—will eventually use home delivery. Some industry leaders expect the actual number to be much higher due to the convenience of online shopping.ATF Chief Counsel Robert Leider said the proposed rules are intended to bring the gun industry in line with the rest of the modern economy. The agency estimates the change will save consumers $103.7 million annually in travel and processing time.Ryder said he was unaware of Trump Jr.’s relationship with GrabAgun until asked by Reuters and that the president’s son had no influence on the proposal. He declined to say whether the White House was involved. The White House said there was no record of “interactions with the president’s son on these topics.”The rule is one of 34 deregulatory measures proposed by the ATF this spring following the February 2025 presidential executive order expanding gun access.
Gun stores and advocates warn of safety risks
Marianna Mitchem, senior firearms industry consultant for Everytown for Gun Safety, said the industry has never asked for such a policy. Brick-and-mortar gun stores have historically played a key role in vetting buyers, she said.“ATF always says gun stores are the first line of defense for gun safety. But now they’re flipping it,” Mitchum said.Gun control groups argue that shipping millions of guns to buyers’ homes could lead to trafficking, mail theft and straw buying, in which legal buyers purchase guns for people who cannot legally own them.“Even with the most robust virtual sales and background check processes in place, gun stores that sell firearms over the Internet have no way of knowing whether the purchaser resold the firearm to someone else,” said Giffords spokesperson Aneesa McMillan.Chrystal Santos, who runs the Bow & Barrel Athletes Center in Missouri, submitted public comments opposing the rule. Her staff is trained to spot straw purchases by reading customer behavior, an intuitive process she says cannot be replaced by online verification.“It opens up a whole can of worms. Places like GrabAGun and others are the problem and they make it more difficult for stores like ours,” Santos said.The proposed rule is currently in a public comment period with a deadline of early August and may not be finalized until late 2026 or early 2027.
