From The Washington Post:

Gun-rights supporters responded angrily. Right-wing media accused the Obama administration of an illegal move to restrict the Second Amendment. U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) wrote a letter co-signed by 236 members of Congress to express their “serious concern.” Fifty-two senators also expressed their displeasure with the ATF’s proposal.

From The New York Times:

But in a Twitter post on Tuesday, the agency acknowledged the intense opposition to the change and said it would shelve the proposal for now.

“You spoke, we listened,” the post said. “@ATFHQ plans more study on the proposed AP Ammo exemption framework.”

A statement on the agency’s website said the agency had received more than 80,000 opinions even before the comment period for the proposed regulatory change was due to end next Monday. The agency said the “vast majority of the comments received to date are critical” of the proposal.

“Accordingly, A.T.F. will not at this time seek to issue a final framework,” the statement said. “After the close of the comment period, A.T.F. will process the comments received” and “further evaluate the issues raised.”