Justice Dept. proposes rule change, guidance to reduce gun violence in U.S. – By Darryl Coote (UPI) / June 8 2021
June 7 (UPI) — The Justice Department has proposed a rule to restrict accessories that turn pistols into rifles and legislation for states to adopt new “red flag” laws to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous owners.
The department’s rule change proposal seeks to clarify and heighten regulations for pistols that are converted with accessories into short-barreled rifles that are “dangerous and easily concealable weapons.”
The proposal says that restrictions on short-barreled rifles also apply to pistols equipped with stabilizing braces that enable the weapon to be fired from the shoulder.
The department argued that converted weapons are more likely to be used to commit crimes, as manufacturers are able to sell such accessories without background checks or registration requirements.
