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The Department of Justice (DOJ) submitted its “Final Rule” on pistol stabilizing braces to the Federal Register on January 13, 2023. Many are concerned that this ruling could turn millions of previously legally owned firearms into NFA-regulated short-barreled rifles (SBRs), and the people that possess those weapons into felons with the stroke of a pen.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) rule 2021R-08F called “Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces,’” is the latest ATF brace rule. This rule aimed to clarify if a firearm was made, designed, and intended to be fired from your shoulder, effectively classifying millions of braced pistols as short-barreled rifles which are subject to the regulations of the National Firearms Act (NFA). This 293-page rule uses vague language about what constitutes an SBR, including eye relief of the optic, the weight of the platform, and the general public's likely use of the weapon. The new ATF brace ruling has many citizens asking, will pistol braces be grandfathered in? No, the ATF will not be grandfathering in any braced weapon configurations that they deem to circumvent the NFA.
The ATF clarified that pistol braces themselves are not subject to any sort of ban or regulation, as the agency does not regulate accessories. The ATF pistol brace rule does specify that many braced weapons, IE: firearms with an attached stabilizing or pistol brace, may be subject to the NFA as they could be SBRs. 2021R-08F does not specify what exactly makes a braced weapon an SBR or not, giving the ATF discretion to apply the rule as they see fit to individual examples. On the ATF’s website is a list of examples and configurations deemed to be SBRs but there is no list of ATF-approved pistol braces. If you are curious if your specific configuration qualifies as an SBR, you can submit your firearm to ATF’s Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division (FATD) for classification. SPOILER: Your firearm is almost certainly an SBR according to this rule.
Credit:@sb.tactical
Included in rule 2021R-08F is a 120-day forbearance period, that started January 31, 2023, when the rule was added to the Federal Register. This ATF pistol brace amnesty period will serve as a window to give individuals time to comply with the new definition and rule by removing the brace, installing a barrel 16” or longer, registering the firearm as an SBR, or destroying the braced weapon. After the forbearance period concludes, firearms that are determined to be SBRs will be treated as unregistered NFA items, and penalties for possessing an unregistered SBR include fines of up to $250,000, up to 10 years in federal prison, and the loss of gun rights.
Credit: @sb.tactical
Yes, if your braced weapon meets the new criteria to be considered an SBR it will require a tax stamp to remain in that configuration. The new ruling does state that during the forbearance period, the ATF will waive the cost of an NFA tax stamp for those who choose to register their firearm as a short-barreled rifle. Registration can be done as an individual or a trust as long as the trust owned the firearm prior to the final rule being added to the register. This registration would be done via an ATF Form 1, which is the form required to manufacture an NFA item.
Silencer Shop is offering our eForm 1 service, allowing you the most streamlined option to submit an ATF eForm 1 application for your braced firearm. There is no tedious paperwork required, we will take care of that for you. Simply create an account on our site, enter your demographic information, snap a selfie and upload it using our smartphone app, and visit a kiosk to submit your fingerprints. If you’ve already submitted a Form 4 through us, your profile is likely already complete! From there we will ask you a few basic details about your firearm, including the original manufacturer, serial number, barrel length, and overall length. Our system will also integrate with the ATF eForms portal to waive the tax stamp for those eligible.
NRAMany law-abiding citizens are upset about the new pistol brace rule, calling it a registration scheme or a bait and switch by the ATF, which previously approved the use of pistol braces and braced weapons. Organizations such as the Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition (FRAC), The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), and National Rifle Association (NRA) are leading the charge to oppose this rule with litigation and lawsuits against the ATF. These groups and others are calling the ruling an attack on the 2nd amendment and citing that only Congress can establish laws, not regulatory bodies such as the DOJ or ATF. We encourage you to support the organizations that are battling to make sure our gun rights shall not be infringed.