FLORIDA FIREARMS – Law, Use & Ownership

PISTOL STABILIZING BRACES and ATF –   BEWARE in 2021.
by jon gutmacher

ATF has been re-examining stabilizing braces again, and proposed a new rule that will likely make any AR style pistol with a barrel length under 16 inches a short barreled rifle under NFA regulations.  They went after these in 2020, and then reversed their position,  but I’ve been warning for the last three years that this has been in their sights, and likely pushed by the Biden gang.  I think this time it is coming in some form or other, although the proposed regulation has some deep flaws which hopefully will be compromised on, or even left out.

Anyway — the long and short of it is — if passed, and your AR pistol falls within the new definition of a SBR — you may have some issues – as you must correct the problems BEFORE the regulation becomes final to avoid the possible civil and criminal penalties they have the power to impose.  Plus, who knows exactly what ATF will finally pass or not pass?  They can grandfather these in and skip the tax, they can chuck it all again like in 2020,  or modify it so maybe just a tube without the rifled type butts will qualify?  Nobody knows — but the fight is on.   Just a warning — something’s coming, and it’s YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to know what — BEFORE the rule, whatever rule — becomes final.  Anyway, here are the possible fixes in worst case scenario:

1.  you can destroy the gun and brace
2. you can remove the brace, get rid of the brace, and if the barrel is under 16″ you should be OK –  but if a 16″ barrel and over  it’s a rifle not a pistol, and must be overall 26″ or more to miss NFA.
3. you can add a new barrel that’s over 16″  (see above)
4. you can surrender the gun and brace  (hold your laughter)
5.  You can register it on a Form 1 as an NFA and pay the $200 tax