ATF Rescinds Stabilizing Brace Notice

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has rescinded its Notice of "Objective Factors for Classifying Weapons with Stabilizing Braces."

We reported on the notice just last week and encouraged gun owners to submit comments.

Here is an excerpt from NSSF's news release:

NSSF had been engaging with manufacturers, distributors, retailers, as well as policymakers to highlight concerns surrounding the proposed guidance. NSSF was working to illustrate the potential impact this guidance would have had on the firearm industry.

NSSF has long requested the ATF to publish objective criteria by which firearm manufacturers can readily produce firearms equipped with arm braces in compliance with the law. To date, the criteria is subjective and open to interpretation on a case-by-case basis. The guidance proposed by the ATF last week did little, unfortunately, to clear the ambiguity that exists with subjective criteria.

NSSF is committed to working with the ATF, on behalf of firearm manufacturers, to establish objective criteria for stabilizing brace-equipped firearms. The firearm industry trade association will continue to monitor and provide updates on any further developments.

Buckeye Firearms Association maintains a close working relationship with the NSSF and applauds them for their efforts on this issue. However, the classification of pistol braces remains an open question. What will the ATF do now?

Based on information from inside sources, it appears likely that the bureau will wait until the next President is sworn in and take their cue from the new political appointees. They may decide to go through a more traditional rule-making process, which requires more time than simply issuing guidelines.

In other words, only time will reveal the fate of pistol braces. We will likely not have any additional information until some time after Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021.