Federal Judge In Texas Enters Injunction On Pistol Brace Rule

 As reported in the Washington Examiner,  "U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk blocked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from enforcing its ban on AR-15 style 'pistols' equipped with arm braces, calling the agency’s new rule unlawful." 

    The nine-page decision is the latest to challenge the ATF over its rule requiring millions of owners of braced guns to register the firearms and pay a $200 tax, or face 10 years in jail. Kacsmaryk’s decision is the most sweeping, covering the whole country.

    At issue is the ATF’s rule issued earlier this year to ban the braces on the guns. The agency claims it turns a pistol into a dangerous rifle and supporters have cited how the weapons have been used in a handful of mass shootings.

    However, for years before its ban, the ATF allowed the braces to be sold, and they have become so common that some estimate 40 million or more are in circulation, making the AR-style pistol one of the most commonly held firearms in the nation.

    Since the ATF changed its view of the brace and issued its rule, a handful of courts have challenged the agency and questioned how it can overnight make millions of owners potential criminals.

You can read the decision here.