ATF’s most recent overreach deals specifically with pistol braces.  We have a federal regulatory agency changing and adding congressionally enacted statutory definitions.  IE, they’re changing whatever they want.  For 10 years ATF has sent letters authorizing these common accessories and with a change in position, POOF, they’re simply changing their minds.  If you can divorce yourself from the subject matter, ask yourself how can a thing be legal and even ‘blessed’ if you will from an authority figure, and after a decade the authority simply change their mind?  No sane judge would go along with that idea, and the plaintiff would have a case.

ATF’s oppression is now outpacing our outrage.

ATF has been weaponized against Americans.  Period.  Law-abiding citizens can no longer keep up with the speed at which ATF is overstepping its authority.  And I firmly believe they’re banking on us simply giving up.  I’ve worked with some really great folks on a local level with ATF, but we can’t count on them to defy their masters.  Do you believe they’ll sacrifice their jobs for your rights?  Some just might risk it, but you better not count on that as being your plan.  So, we’ve got considerations to make when it comes to the pistol brace shenanigans.

What violent crime does this pistol brace ban counter?  None.  Side note – don’t kid yourself, this is a ban despite what the point system may indicate.  They’re even including cosmetic changes to the pistol as points against your ownership.  What possible relevance does that have with the brace itself?  What authority does ATF have to “forebear” a $200 tax clearly written in US Code?  And why is ATF essentially, piece by piece, residing at the crossroads of whether you’re a felon or not simply be their determination they simply erected out of thin air?

You really need to take a few minutes and head over to NRA-ILA and read their article, “ATF Posts “Final” Rule on Stabilizing Braces” if you haven’t already.  You’ll get some vital context and you’ll also see what options may exist.  From the article:

These options vary depending on whether a person is a Federal Firearms Licensee, an unlicensed person, or a government entity, but the options generally include removing the short barrel and exchanging it for one that is longer than 16 inches, filing a Form 1 to “make” the firearm as a short-barrel rifle, removing the brace, surrendering the firearm, or destroying the firearm.

 

Whichever option is selected, it must be exercised before the date that is 120 days after the rule is posted in the federal register.

And here is a really important component to keep in mind:

For those who choose to remove the brace from their firearm, ATF also claims that the brace must be altered or destroyed so that it simply cannot be reinstalled. This is a strange claim since ATF has no authority to regulate braces separate from a firearm (just like they cannot regulate a stock, pistol grip, or other accessory).

Sound pretty bad to you?  It should because it is.  And it should be noted ATF’s rise in power and oppression were offered to you by the votes of Senators and House Representatives in both the VAWA component rolled into the Ukraine Bill and specifically the “Safer” Act…  Here are the votes from the Safer Act in case you’ve forgotten from an earlier blog:

“Bipartisan Safer Communities Act” votes from Iowa Elected Officials:

FOR:

• Senator Ernst (R-IA)
• Representative Cindy Axne (D-IA)

AGAINST:

• Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
• Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA)
• Representative Mariannetter Miller-Meeks (R-IA)
• Representative Randy Feenstra (R-IA)

Remember who voted for what and thank them for their actions.  There is a list above of folks who said NO to adding copious amounts of power and money to ATF.  Senator Grassley, Representative Hinson, Representative Miller-Meeks, and Representative Feenstra all voted to keep government bureaucracy in check.  And there is another, very short, list of those who gave more money and power to federal agencies known for abusing both, one of which was not reelected in November of 2022.  This requires you to remind Senator Ernst of her horrible choice as well.

In Libertatem,

Michael Ware
IFC Board