Welcome back to the 15th installment of my blog, in which I don’t claim to be an expert, in fact the opposite. I’m a new user to the AR platform and want to share my findings and experiences as I go through and build rifles as well as being the Operations Manager at Tyrant Designs.

 

FACT: IT TOOK ME AN HR TO MAKE THIS MEME

AR-15 accessories arm brace | Tyrant Designs CNC

ALSO FACT: I MAY BE LYING

 

So, this week I thought it would be relevant to discuss some current events. Earlier in the week the ATF changed their stance regarding the use of an arm brace as a stock for an AR pistol.

 

A brief history. A disabled veteran named Alex Bosco wanted to make a brace to fit over the forearm of the operator. This was originally designed for disabled vets who had limited mobility. Its intent was to stabilize the rifle while firing with 1 arm.

 

National Firearm Act items. Some guns are prohibited by federal law unless registered with the government and certain fees are paid. Examples of this are a short barreled rifle and automatic weapons.

 

If you shoulder a firearm that has a barrel less than 16 inches and an arm brace, that would make it an unregistered National firearm act item. The ATF had made a decision 2 years ago that prohibited the use of the brace as a type of rifle stock to be shouldered for AR pistols. But this week, the ATF sent a letter to the manufacturers stating that “incidental, sporadic, or situational” use of a firearm equipped with an arm brace “in its original approved configuration” at or near the shoulder would not constitute a redesign nor make it an NFA item.

 

Often times legal rhetoric and definitions like this one can fry your brain like an egg ( and some, okay almost all, would argue that it's done on purpose). It is very confusing to say the least. But what I took from this is that the ATF may be becoming more relaxed on past regulations/stances that they previously had under Obama. Could this be a by-product of a new administration under Trump? One that is more friendly to the second amendment? 

 

A simple observation; Speaking with industry professionals there seems to be a general consensus that without fear of anti second amendment legislation, people are not stock piling magazines and cheap $500 AR-15s like they once were under Obama (Thanks Obama….) The market seems to have shifted to consumers opting for higher end rifles and rifle accessories.

 

Do you think gun laws will become more relaxed now that we have a new president? What do you think of this most recent decision by the ATF? Do you think the ATF is taking a new position on firearms and firearms accessories?

Do you have a cousin named Sal who works for the ATF? Can you tell him to please call Cory back? Leave your comment below.