New ATF Pistol Brace Rule Could Make Thousands Of Texans Criminals

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On Friday, probably when you weren't paying attention, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, also known as the ATF, dropped it's new rule on pistol braces. And for millions of gun owners across America, it's not good.

Under a new rule which will be published in the Federal Register this week, gun owners who have pistol braces or "stabilizing braces" will have just 120 days to either register their guns, destroy the brace, or make other changes to make it a rifle. Failure to do so means you either surrender your gun to the ATF or you could end up in jail.

According to freerangeamerican.us, the rule claims that pistol braces turn pistols into short barreled rifles.

“Today, the Department of Justice announced it has submitted to the Federal Register the ‘Stabilizing Braces’ Final Rule, which makes clear that when manufacturers, dealers, and individuals use stabilizing braces to convert pistols into rifles with a barrel of less than 16 inches, commonly referred to as a short-barreled rifles, they must comply with the laws that regulate those rifles, including the National Firearms Act (NFA). In April 2021, at an event with President Biden, the Attorney General directed the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to address the issue of stabilizing braces.”

According to the announcement, the rule goes into effect on the date of publication in the Federal Register and allows a 120-day period for manufacturers, dealers, and individuals to register any existing NFA short-barreled rifles covered by the rule. The normal SBR tax will be waived.

If anyone doesn’t want to register, the ATF says they can remove the brace “to return the firearm to a pistol,” or they can surrender the gun to the ATF.

So how many people will this impact? No one is completely sure, but remember pistol braces have been legal for a long time and they have been gaining in popularity as well.

The ATF posted a video explaining the changes and named the Ruger AR-556 with a short barrel with a SBA3 brace and the Q Honey Badger with the HBPDW brace, short barrel rifles.

Lawsuits are sure to be filed and Republican lawmakers are already blasting the rule changes.