The US government will stop trying to regulate pistol braces as rifles

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is proposing to remove rules that classify pistols with stabilizing braces as rifles. This means that these firearms will no longer be subject to the stricter regulations that apply to rifles.

The ATF has tried to regulate these devices for years, but courts have repeatedly blocked their efforts. This proposed rule change means the agency is giving up on that approach. It effectively means that firearms with stabilizing braces will remain largely unregulated at the federal level, despite concerns about their use in mass shootings.