New gun regulations to address stabilizing braces and accessories on pistols

DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) -- New gun regulations for pistol owners are in motion across the United States.

In January, the Attorney General signed ATF final rule 2021R-08F, “Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces,’” amending ATF’s regulations to clarify when a rifle is designed, made, and intended to be fired from the shoulder.

As of Tuesday, gun owners will need to register their pistols, if they choose to have a stabilizing brace on their pistol. According to the new rule, pistols, or firearms with barrels less than 16 inches, with stabilizing braces are classified as short barreled rifles.

With the new classifications comes new regulations.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) states, "when manufacturers, dealers, and individuals use stabilizing braces to convert pistols into rifles with a barrel of less than 16 inches, commonly referred to as a short-barreled rifles, they must comply with the laws that regulate those rifles, including the National Firearms Act (NFA)."

This rule is effective from the date it was published in the Federal Register, Jan. 31, 2023.

Any weapons with "stabilizing braces" or similar attachments that constitute rifles under the NFA must be registered no more than 120 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register for free. That date is May 31, 2023.

However, the ATF says there are four other options. These options include replacing the firearm's barrel with one that is longer than 16 inches, getting rid of the stabilizing brace, destroying the barrel, and turning the firearm over to ATF.

The new law does not outlaw stabilizing braces or pistols.

“Almost a century ago, Congress determined that short-barreled rifles must be subject to heightened requirements," United States Attorney General Merrick Garland said following the implementation of the new regulations. "Today’s rule makes clear that firearm manufacturers, dealers, and individuals cannot evade these important public safety protections simply by adding accessories to pistol.”

“Crazy people are going to do crazy things no matter what they are armed with,” Teddy Collins, the owner of Spartan Defense, a gun store in Colorado Springs.

Collins believes this new rule wont impact his own business, however, he also fears this new rule wont curb future mass shootings.

“I don’t think that a law is going to effect those that are intent on breaking the law." Collins said. "It’s only going to effect those that obey the law. It’s a reactive solution not a proactive solution. I think a lot of the reasons we have these kinds of events that we are talking about is mental health.”