Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

NRA to Move for Expedited Relief for Its Members in Light of Fifth Circuit Pistol Brace Ruling

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

NRA to Move for Expedited Relief for Its Members in Light of Fifth Circuit Pistol Brace Ruling

The National Rifle Association of America (“NRA”) announced today that it would be expediting its motion for a preliminary injunction to protect its members from the Biden Administration’s unlawful attempt to reclassify braced pistols as “rifles” subject to onerous registration requirements.

The announcement comes a day after the Fifth Circuit’s decision in Mock v. Garland, which finds the controversial “pistol brace rule” recently issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) is probably unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”).

In an opinion issued yesterday, the Fifth Circuit agreed with what the NRA has contended from Day 1 – the Biden Administration’s Pistol Brace Rule is unlawful.

The rule seeks to rewrite the National Firearms Act (“NFA”) to make any pistol that has a stabilizing brace attached a “rifle” subject to the stringent registration and transfer requirements of the NFA. But the ATF sought to couch its sweeping rewrite of the law as a mere “interpretation” of the NFA – despite the fact that, over the course of more than a decade, the ATF has repeatedly assured law-abiding gun owners and manufacturers that adding a brace to a pistol does not transform the weapon into a “rifle.”

Thus, the ATF contradicted itself and sought to subject law-abiding gun owners to penalties, fines, and potential prison sentences for the use of an otherwise legal plastic apparatus on some firearms. Even worse, the ATF sought to sidestep a barrage of negative comments for its proposed rule, including the NRA’s comments, by attempting an 11th-hour rewrite of the Pistol Brace Rule to add a poorly conceived six-factor test “considering everything from the weight of the firearm with the stabilizing brace attached to the prevalence of Youtubers’ demonstrating the likely use of the weapon,” in the words of the Fifth Circuit.

While the Fifth Circuit remanded to the district court to determine the proper scope of injunctive relief, the writing is on the wall: the Pistol Brace Rule is illegal and cannot withstand scrutiny. Further, the Fifth Circuit observed that “in certain circumstances, nationwide relief is appropriate and may be necessary for the benefit of all parties” and emphasized the need for a “consistent application of the law.” All that is left is for the lower courts to give effect to the Fifth Circuit’s clear direction.

The NRA initially backed a lawsuit by several state attorneys general in North Dakota, sought to intervene in a Texas legal action challenging the unlawful rule, and, on July 3, 2023, filed its own lawsuit against the ATF, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), ATF Director Dettelbach, and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland (“Defendants”) seeking a preliminary injunction protecting its members from the pistol brace rule. Now, the NRA will move to ensure that its preliminary injunction motion moves on an expedited schedule, so its members may obtain relief even more quickly in light of the Fifth Circuit’s ruling. It is also appealing the denial of its motion to intervene in the Fifth Circuit – an appeal that is currently proceeding on an expedited schedule.

“The NRA fought this unlawful rule at every level – first as a supporter of a major case and then as a plaintiff at the tip of the spear,” says NRA CEO & EVP Wayne LaPierre. “This ruling sends a powerful message to NRA members and law-abiding gun owners everywhere: freedom will be preserved."

“The NRA will move swiftly to expedite its pending preliminary injunction motion, allowing the NRA and its members to quickly obtain the relief they deserve,” says William A. Brewer III, counsel to the NRA. “The Fifth Circuit’s ruling leaves little doubt that the NRA will achieve success on behalf of its members and prevail in protecting them from this unlawful overreach. All the gun rights groups who stood up to this attack on freedom should be commended.”

TRENDING NOW
Newsom’s Nonsense: Reassuring Words Pale Next to Anti-Second Amendment Record

News  

Monday, July 21, 2025

Newsom’s Nonsense: Reassuring Words Pale Next to Anti-Second Amendment Record

By now, Americans should be well aware that California Governor Gavin Newsom struggles with the truth. Recently, the known fabulist took his act on the road to sit with Tennessee-based podcaster Shawn Ryan for an interview.

Designed to Fail? Permit Processing in the City of Angels

News  

Monday, July 21, 2025

Designed to Fail? Permit Processing in the City of Angels

Even as the majority of states embrace constitutional carry (29 so far), California continues to make it more difficult for its responsible residents to carry a firearm for lawful self-defense. 

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

House Natural Resources Committee Advances Key Hunting Bills

News  

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

House Natural Resources Committee Advances Key Hunting Bills

On July 15, 2025, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced two NRA-ILA supported bills — the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act (H.R. 556) sponsored by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA-1), and the Grizzly Bear ...

Florida: Congratulations to Blaise Ingoglia on His Appointment as CFO

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Florida: Congratulations to Blaise Ingoglia on His Appointment as CFO

The NRA congratulates State Senator Blaise Ingoglia on his appointment by Governor Ron DeSantis to serve as Florida’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Senator Ingoglia’s unwavering defense of the Second Amendment and steadfast commitment to protecting ...

Baltimore Gets Serious on Crime Control, and the Results Speak for Themselves

News  

Monday, July 14, 2025

Baltimore Gets Serious on Crime Control, and the Results Speak for Themselves

As the mid-year mark of 2025 hits, a promising report on crime trends has come out of the City of Baltimore. Surprising news at first glance until you dig deeper into the policy direction the ...

North Carolina: Update on Gun Bills Moving through the General Assembly

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

North Carolina: Update on Gun Bills Moving through the General Assembly

Recently, House Bill 193 (H193) was reported favorably out of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Rules Committee, with amendments.

NRA and 2A Allies Announce NFA Lawsuit

Monday, July 7, 2025

NRA and 2A Allies Announce NFA Lawsuit

Following the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—which eliminates the National Firearms Act of 1934’s (NFA) excise tax on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and AOWs—the National Rifle Association issued a joint statement along with the ...

U.K. Moves to Legally De-suppress Suppressors

News  

Monday, July 14, 2025

U.K. Moves to Legally De-suppress Suppressors

On July 4th, President Donald Trump signed into law his “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which included a provision that eliminated the tax stamp fee of $200, but did not deregulate suppressors under the National Firearms ...

Minnesota: Shotgun-Only Hunting Zones Repealed

Friday, June 20, 2025

Minnesota: Shotgun-Only Hunting Zones Repealed

On Monday, June 9th, outside of regular session, the Senate passed the Environment Omnibus bill, removing shotgun-only hunting zones in the state. 

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.