Did it ever get pushed up to the Federal level?
Good question. I don't recall. I learned about the change in law by reading a case, but I don't recall if the case was decided by a state court or a federal court.
I'll see if I can find the case, and if I do, I'll post a link to it. I do recall that the consequence to the gun owner was upheld, but don't know if he escaped his encounter with the law with only loss of his guns, or if he was imprisoned or otherwise punished. I do recall that he was otherwise law abiding. That is, the lapse of his permanent card was the basis for the case.