Fast facts:  Northern District of Texas Overturns Pistol Stabilizing Brace Ban

  • On June 13, 2024, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas overturned the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ban on pistol stabilizing braces, stating that the ATF violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) when it reclassified these devices as short-barreled rifles, requiring compliance with the National Firearms Act (NFA).
  • A pistol stabilizing brace is a device attached to a pistol to stabilize it on the body.
  • The court’s decision applies only within the Northern District of Texas. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, whose jurisdiction includes Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, issued a temporary injunction against the ATF’s rule, allowing possession of these braces in those regions for now.
  • The ruling did not address the constitutionality of banning pistol stabilizing braces under the Second Amendment. It strictly focused on the procedural violation by the ATF.
  • The ruling may be appealed, and other federal districts might rule on this issue differently. Individuals in different regions should consult local laws and potentially seek legal advice to understand the current status of the law and the legality of possessing pistol stabilizing braces in their areas.

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