Biden rule reclassifying some pistols as short-barreled rifles draws Texas lawsuit – By William Melhado (Texas Tribune) / Feb 11, 2023
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives recently amended a rule that classifies guns with “stabilized braces” as rifles.
Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against President Joe Biden on Thursday, claiming that an amended rule from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives violates Americans’ Second Amendment rights. Paxton partnered with Gun Owners of America, a gun rights group, on the lawsuit, which found fault with how the federal firearm agency classifies guns with “stabilizing braces.”
Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice finalized a rule that amended an ATF definition for firearms equipped with stabilizing braces, a rear attachment originally designed for veterans with disabilities. Under the new rule, firearms — including pistols — outfitted with the rearward attachment are classified as rifles or “short-barreled rifles,” which are subject to stricter regulations than guns without these accessories.
With gun reform facing staunch opposition from Republican lawmakers, Biden opted to regulate a firearm accessory as one method of addressing gun violence. The rule adoption provides a look into how Biden’s administration is trying to pass gun reforms to address the scourge of mass shootings that have become a fixture of American society.
