Cornhusker State News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement after voting in favor of legislation to prevent the Biden administration’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from enforcing an anti-Second Amendment pistol stabilizing braces rule. The bill failed to pass the U.S. Senate 49-50.

“President Biden’s anti-Second Amendment proposal unfairly burdens firearm owners with disabilities – including many of our nation’s veterans. Restricting access to pistol braces is simply another aggressive overreach by this administration that penalizes law-abiding citizens. I’m disappointed that the Senate failed to defend Americans’ fundamental right to bear arms, but I will continue to work to defend Nebraskans’ constitutional liberties,” said Senator Fischer.

U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-La.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) led the introduction of the resolution.

Background:

In 2012, the Obama-Biden administration’s ATF determined that pistol-brace attachments do not change the classification of a pistol to that of a rifle. Despite this, the Biden administration in 2021 directed the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to propose a rule that clarifies when a pistol with a brace attachment should be designated as a rifle. Earlier this year, the DOJ announced the ‘stabilizing braces’ final rule.

The rule, titled “Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached Stabilizing Braces,” would reclassify pistols as short-barreled rifles if they have a stabilizing brace attachment, even though many disabled veterans and other Americans rely on these braces to operate their firearms. Under this rule, lawful gun owners could face up to 10 years in jail and thousands of dollars in fines if they fail to register pistols with stabilizing braces with the ATF. If gun owners do not register their firearms, they would have to destroy the firearm, surrender their firearm to the ATF, or remove the brace in such a way that it cannot be reattached.

In addition to Senators Fischer, Kennedy, and Marshall, the resolution was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Thomas Tillis (R-N.C.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

U.S. Representative Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. On June 13th, the House passed the legislation by a vote of 219 to 210.

Click here to read the full text of the resolution. 

Original source can be found here