File this one under: Elections have consequences. Republicans tried, but failed in the U.S. Senate to block the Biden Pistol Brace Rule by using the Congressional Review Act. The final vote along party lines, was 50-49. Even if it had passed narrowly, the president would have overridden the vote.
The rule outlawing the possession of previously lawfully equipped pistols with attached stabilizing braces took effect June 1. Anyone who has an unregistered pistol that is equipped with such a brace is now committing a felony with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Of the 40,000,000 braces in possession by Americans, a fraction of them have been registered with the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Agency (ATF).
The Reload, a website devoted to firearm news, says “more than 90 percent of the guns equipped with pistol braces remain unregistered despite the risk of potential federal felony charges.”
The new regulation involves devices that help stabilize guns for better accuracy. The agency has put these stabilizers into the same category as other guns, like machine guns, which it regulates and taxes under the National Firearms Act of 1934.
Gun Owners of America Senior Vice President Erich Pratt issued a statement that indicated the matter will now be challenged to the U.S. Supreme Court:
“It’s incredibly disappointing that, despite an outpouring of grassroots opposition to the rule, the Senate concurred with President Biden and voted to make their constituents felons. Gun Owners of America will continue to fight back in the Courts, where we have already seen some strong success. The fight will go on.”
During debate, Democrat Majority Leader Chuck Schumer falsely stated that pistol stabilizing braces convert pistols into machine guns. In fact, they make pistols more accurate, but do not make them into machine guns, which are automatic weapons that keep on firing in rapid succession, as long as the trigger is pressed.
