U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and a group of Republican senators called on Apr. 15 for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to stop enforcing a Biden administration rule that classified braced pistols as short-barrel rifles under the National Firearms Act.
The senators said their concern centers on constitutional rights and the uncertainty faced by millions of Americans who own stabilizing braces for their firearms. The letter follows court decisions in August 2024 by the Fifth and Eighth Circuits that vacated the rule on procedural grounds.
“The new Rule, which classified virtually all braced pistols as short-barrel rifles under the NFA, exposed millions of Americans to criminal penalties … Thankfully, the Rule was soon vacated in August 2024, albeit on procedural grounds, following rulings by both the Fifth and Eighth Circuits. Now, however, it appears that ATF has no intention of backing down,” wrote Cassidy and his colleagues.
The senators also wrote: “We believe that any attempt to extend the NFA’s onerous requirements to the untold millions of citizens who already own braced pistols cannot pass constitutional muster.” They cited Supreme Court decisions affirming individual rights under the Second Amendment.
Stabilizing braces were first developed around 2012 to improve control and stability when firing handguns. According to a Congressional Research Service report referenced in their letter, between 10 million and 40 million pistol braces were in circulation as of 2021. The lawmakers argued that most owners acquired these devices based on earlier guidance from ATF stating such attachments would not convert pistols into short-barrel firearms subject to additional regulation.
In recent court documents filed March 16th in an ongoing case involving Texas and Gun Owners of America, ATF stated it “continue[s] to enforce … regulation of short-barreled rifles against some brace-equipped pistols,” despite universal vacation of its formal rule.
Senator Cassidy is also known for his work outside gun policy; he co-founded the Greater Baton Rouge Community Clinic to deliver free health and dental care according to his official website. He serves as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee as well as a member of other committees focused on finance and veterans affairs according to his official website. He has advanced initiatives aimed at reducing health care costs and reforming mental health systems according to his official website.
In conclusion, Cassidy joined fellow senators urging immediate clarity from ATF: “Right now, millions of Americans continue to languish in uncertainty, fearing that they may be prosecuted simply for exercising their constitutional rights.”
