The ATF has released their long-awaited pistol brace ban. The rule will be effective as soon as it is entered into the federal registry, which must be within 30 days of January 13, 2023.
The rule expands the definition of “rifle” as follows:
“the definition of ‘rifle’ shall include a weapon that is equipped with an accessory, component, or other rearward attachment (e.g., a ‘stabilizing brace’) that provides surface area that allows the weapon to be fired from the shoulder, provided other factors, as described in this preamble and in the amended regulations, indicate that the weapon is designed, made, and intended to be fired from the shoulder.”
This means that nearly any weapon with a pistol brace attached is now a rifle. If the barrel is shorter than 16″ (i.e. a pistol), it would now be classified as a short-barreled rifle and illegal unless the owner registers it with the federal government.
This has major implications for millions of law-abiding firearms holders who use pistol braces with their firearms. Unless they register those firearms with the ATF under the National Firearms Act (and pay $200 per tax stamp), they could be prosecuted for a felony.
This is a massive expansion of the only gun registry currently legal under federal law. With this rule suddenly millions of common everyday pistols get treated similarly to machine guns, silencers, and destructive devices (grenades, poisonous gases, and missiles).
So let’s call this “rule” what it really is. Gun registration for millions American gun owners.
This is a deliberate prelude to one day registering and taxing ALL rifles, pistols, or shotguns under the NFA.
Our legal team is analyzing the entirety of the 293-page document and will have a full legal analysis soon.
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Click here for the full rule.
