In a significant legal development for 2A advocates, a federal court has issued a nationwide injunction against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)’s rule on firearms with attached stabilizing braces, commonly known as the pistol brace rule.
The ruling, hailed as a major victory by gun rights supporters, effectively nullifies the ATF’s recent regulation attempts on these firearms.
William Kirk, President of Washington Gun Law, reported the development in a recent video (see above) from Securite Gun Club in Woodinville. According to Kirk, the case in question, Britto v. ATF, was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Amarillo Division.
The court’s decision not only affects named plaintiffs in this specific lawsuit but extends its impact nationwide, a first in the legal battles surrounding the ATF’s pistol brace rule.
The court’s order, concise yet comprehensive, spans only nine pages (see below). It cuts directly to the primary legal argument, bypassing more complex constitutional issues to focus on violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
The ruling indicates that the ATF’s regulation did not meet the necessary legal standards and was deemed “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with the law.”
Notably, the court’s decision leans heavily on the precedent set in Mock v. Garland, another case challenging the ATF’s regulation. This earlier case had already established that the pistol brace rule likely violated the APA, guiding the court’s reasoning in the Britto case.
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In terms of the impact of this ruling, it effectively halts the enforcement of the controversial rule on a national scale. This provides immediate relief to gun owners who had found themselves potentially in violation of federal law due to the ownership of firearms equipped with stabilizing braces.
The government is expected to appeal the decision, indicating that the legal battle over the ATF’s pistol brace rule is far from over. However, as it stands, the rule has been stayed in its entirety, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over gun control and rights in the United States.
About Washington Gun Law:
Washington Gun Law is a platform dedicated to informing the public about firearms laws and regulations. Led by President William Kirk, it provides insights and updates on legal developments impacting gun ownership and usage.
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