A coalition of state attorneys general sued the US Attorney General and the ATF on Thursday, claiming that their recent implementation of a brace rule aimed at undermining the Second Amendment rights of Americans.
The suit, which was filed in North Dakota's US District Court, claimed that the ATF's rule, which aimed to require pistol bracers, was arbitrary and capricious. It also added various regulations, such as higher taxes and longer waiting periods.
In January, the ATF announced that it would no longer provide guidance on how to brace a pistol. Instead, it would redefine the term "rifle" to include any firearm that was designed or remade to fire from the shoulder. This meant that owners of brace-equipped pistols would have to register them with the federal government as SBRs.
Patrick Morrisey, the attorney general of West Virginia, called the rule an attempt to undermine the rights of Americans to carry out their Second Amendment activities. He noted that it would make millions of accessories into short-barreled rifles.
He claimed that the rule was part of a campaign by the Biden administration to undermine the rights of gun owners.
According to the coalition, those who make and sell brace-equipped pistols have to follow the NFA regulations, which means that those who own such weapons have to apply for a permit and pay taxes.
The rule would also affect the owners of brace-equipped guns, such as those who have limited mobility or are older. According to the coalition, many people who use these weapons for accuracy rely on these stabilizers to prevent getting too much of a reaction when firing.
In response, Morrisey stated that he would continue fighting for the Second Amendment's rights of West Virginians. He noted that the rule would make it harder for people with disabilities and senior citizens to defend themselves.
According to Morrisey, the ATF's implementation of the rule was also unlawful because it violated the separation of powers. He noted that it was another example of the agency not following the Constitution's requirements when it comes to writing laws.
Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, also sued the ATF on Thursday, claiming that the rule was unconstitutional.
In a statement, the attorney general noted that the rule was another attempt to expand gun registration in the country. He said that he was hopeful that the lawsuit would prevent it from taking effect.
Judge Jon Garland of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia did not respond to a request for comment.
The preceding article is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Daily Caller
