Staff Reports
In an unexpected action, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) under President Joe Biden’s administration has effectively criminalized 29 million American gun owners who legally owned AR-15-style pistols, by enforcing stringent regulations. Gun owners are required to register their weapons, a process involving a $200 tax and providing fingerprints. The majority of AR-15-style pistol owners, however, have resisted these regulations, thereby facing potential hefty fines, a decade-long jail term, or both.
Biden's ATF Just Turned 29 Million Law Abiding American Gun Owners Into Felons Overnight https://t.co/v10L1wpSN7
— RedState (@RedState) June 12, 2023
AR-15-style pistols are among the most commonly owned firearms. They are designed without a conventional stock and possess a shorter barrel and overall length than regular rifles. Pistol braces, designed in 2012 by Alex Bosco to aid disabled veterans in accurately firing an AR-15, are unaffected by these new regulations. Despite previous ATF indications of their legality, the Biden administration has decided to regulate AR-15-style pistols.
THIS IS A WIN FOR ALL GOA MEMBERS! But we can, and will, do more! #STOPTHEBAN https://t.co/q94nRZibhV
— Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) June 1, 2023
BREAKING: It’s official.
The House will vote on my resolution, H.J.Res. 44, to block the ATF’s unconstitutional pistol brace rule next week.
I will never stop fighting to protect Americans’ Second Amendment freedoms. pic.twitter.com/4Iu5LMLCyb
— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) June 8, 2023
The massive pushback from gun owners represents the most significant pro-gun protest to date, exceeding compliance levels witnessed in past AR-15-style rifle and pistol registrations in states like New York and Connecticut. With numerous courts issuing injunctions to halt rule enforcement, it seems probable that the Supreme Court will end up addressing the ensuing legal disputes.
Americans hold their Second Amendment rights in high regard, and the majority are refusing to register their AR-15-style pistols, as they view registration as a precursor to confiscation. Erich Pratt, the senior vice president of Gun Owners of America (GOA), pointed out that ATF’s history of inconsistency and perceived deception has caused gun owners to distrust the agency’s handling of their firearm information. This widespread non-compliance in response to Biden’s gun control measures is gaining traction and may spark a significant Second Amendment legal confrontation in the Supreme Court.
