House Republicans Allege ATF Overstepped Authority With Pistol Brace Rules

Congressional Republicans didn’t hold back during an April 26 hearing of the House Judiciary Committee, grilling the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) on the agency’s rule on stabilizing pistol braces and its “zero tolerance” policy for federal firearms licensed dealers (FFLs).

Director Steven Dettelbach was called to answer tough questions about the ATF’s enforcement of the National Firearms Act, which has been a point of contention between Second Amendment advocates and the agency for years.

Dettelbach defended the ATF’s actions, stating that everything they do is motivated by public safety while respecting citizens’ constitutional rights.

However, Democrats accused Republicans of ignoring the problem of gun violence, claiming that stabilizing braces had been used in recent mass shootings.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) argued that if Republicans had their way, local law enforcement agencies would lose a valuable resource.

Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) denied wanting to shut down the ATF, but instead wants the agency to enforce the law and let the Legislative Branch write it.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) accused Republicans of prioritizing the firearms industry over society’s safety.

Republicans countered that the ATF had issued conflicting rules, leaving Americans unsure of whether they were in compliance with the law from one day to the next.

Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) cited conflicting letters the ATF had issued concerning pistol braces, stating that the agency’s flip-flopping would turn many law-abiding citizens into felons.