03.20.23

Hoeven Helps Introduce CRA to Stop Biden Administration's Anti-Second Amendment Pistol Rule

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven joined Senators John Kennedy (R-La.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) in introducing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to prevent the Biden administration’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from enforcing a rule that would reclassify pistols as short-barreled rifles if stabilizing brace attachments are used. Disabled veterans and other Americans rely on these braces to use their firearms and in 2012, the Obama-Biden administration’s ATF determined that pistol-brace attachments do not change the classification of a pistol to that of a rifle.  

“This anti-Second Amendment pistol brace rule infringes on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens,” said Hoeven. “We will continue to defend the Second Amendment and push back on the Biden administration’s ATF, while supporting the constitutional rights of North Dakotans.”

Further, under this rule otherwise lawful gun owners could face up to 10 years in jail and thousands of dollars in fines if they fail to register pistols with stabilizing braces with the ATF. If gun owners do not register their firearms, they would have to destroy the firearm, surrender their firearm to the ATF or remove the brace in such a way that it cannot be reattached.

In addition to Hoeven, Kennedy and Marshall, the resolution is also cosponsored by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). Click here for the resolution text.  

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