Pistol Braces  by Tom Reynolds

The Biden Administration has mobilized many parts of the federal government for political purposes, not the least of which is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). 

Following Biden’s anti 2^nd Amendment script, the ATF issued a new pistol brace rule that would reclassify millions of pistols equipped with pistol stabilizing devices as short-barreled rifles under the National Firearms Act of 1934. The change would mean millions of Americans could become felons on June 1st (next week) when the window closes to register, destroy, modify, or turn in their firearm equipped with a pistol brace to authorities.

The Firearms Policy Coalition is seeking a nationwide injunction against the regulation based on two main issues:

The ATF has no authority to make such a regulation because the ATF is sidestepping Congress and making a de facto law at the behest of the White House for political gain.

The ATF also is violating the rule of lenity which states that if a law is ambiguous or unclear, it must be interpreted for the defense (the people, not the government).

In addition, a resolution has been introduced in the House of Representatives disapproving of this rule:

JOINT RESOLUTION Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives relating to ‘‘Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces’ ’’. 

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress disapproves the rule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives relating to ‘‘Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces’ ’’ (ATF final rule 2021R–08F), and such rule shall have no force or effect.

The bill has almost 200 co sponsors but only four (4) are from New York State:

Nick Langworthy, Elise Stefanik, Claudia Tenney, George Santos

As one SCOPE member has nicely summed up:

‘BATFE is a corrupt rogue agency of the executive branch which operates as if there were no US Constitution’.

Article I. Section 1. of the constitution states: "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress …"

The Constitution does not grant to the Congress such powers permitting its delegation of its primary lawful function to the executive branch, let alone abdication to a rogue “political policy instrument” thereof.

If the four co-sponsors are your Congressperson, be sure to thank them.

If your congressperson is not a co-sponsor, be sure to ask them why not and encourage them (and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand) to vote for this resolution.