Op-EdImpending 'Pistol Brace' Rule Seeks to Subvert American Electoral System and Her Citizenry

By Congressman Paul Gosar
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2023/05/impending_pistol_brace_rule_seeks_to_subvert_american_electoral_system_and_her_citizenry.html

On June 1st, the Biden Administration will begin the biggest ban of firearms through the Bureau

of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)’s “Factoring Criteria for Firearms with

Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces’” rule — and Congress may not even vote on the rule.

By no stretch of the imagination is this a partisan issue. But some vulnerable members are

concerned that this is a controversial issue – far from it! On the contrary, supporting this rule is

the radical position which will require an answer from enraged voters. Since pistols and people

with disabilities exist in every congressional district, all constituencies are affected by this rule.

Congressional Research Service estimates up to 40 million pistol braces are in circulation among

Americans. When Americans legally bought their ATF-approved pistol braces several years ago

and attached it to their firearm — making it less concealable but easier for the disabled to use —

how could they know that on June 1st

, 2023 they would be made felons for their legal purchase?

No member of Congress should want to see any of their constituents face prison time and

enormous fines for buying a device approved by the ATF at the time of purchase, sanctioned by

the Second Amendment, and numerous Supreme Court decisions including last year’s NYSPRA

v. Bruen which affirmed any law related to firearms must conform to American history, text, and

tradition. This rule is an unprecedented infringement to the largest scale in American history.

Just yesterday, a three-judge panel in the fifth circuit ruled a preliminary injunction which

protected the particular plaintiffs from Biden’s rule.

Last week Congress commemorated police week, but if we allow this rule to pass without lifting

a finger, we dishonor law enforcement. Few things would do greater harm to the thin blue line

between law enforcement and the civilians they are charged to protect and serve. This rule

would pit peaceful Americans against officers obligated to enforce this rule. No officer should

be put into the position to confiscate pistol brace firearms from peaceful civilians who legally

purchased them. What officer wants to carry on their conscience they imprisoned unaware

physically disabled members of their community?

If an objector’s concern is public safety, then know enforcement of this rule will only endanger

gun owners. There is no evidence the pistol brace makes firearms more deadly. Adding a pistol

brace only makes it more difficult to conceal but easier for the disabled to use. Since Obama’s

ATF approved its use over ten years ago in 2012, anti-gun activists only point to three major

mass killings in which a pistol brace was used (Boulder, CO; Dayton OH, and Nashville, TN).

In none of those cases do they bother to explain how one life would have been saved if the pistol

brace was not legally permitted or not even used. Falling for this argument is a classic example

of ignoring evil people, the true cause of violence, and focusing on the inanimate object.My honorable colleague, Congressman Andrew Clyde, introduced H.J. Res 44, which is the

legislation allowing for Congressional disapproval of the ATF rule in March. It was voted on by

the Judiciary Committee in April and reported this month. It’s ready for a vote. If given a vote

before the deadline, voters will only target their wrath on the radical members who voted to turn

peaceful citizens into felons. Voting against this rule will not make or break any campaign —

baring a select few areas with the lowest firearm ownership rates. However, not voting for this

rule which affects tens of millions of Americans will hurt the legitimacy of Congress.

The resolutions of disapproval for executive rules scheduled for a vote this week (S. J. Res. 11,

H.J. Res. 45, and H.J. Res. 39), have 37, 94, and 10 cosponsors respectively. H.J. Res 44 has

188 cosponsors — twice the amount of the resolution with the most cosponsors scheduled for a

vote this week. This is not to disparage any of the scheduled resolutions in any way. Rather, it

is a demonstration of H.J. Res 44’s popularity within Congress.

I realize many of my colleagues are focused on the debt limit negotiations and overall spending –

and rightfully so since the issue is of critical importance. It is because the debt limit debate is so

important, we should take a vote on H.J. Res 44. With the passage of the Limit, Save, Grow Act,

there is demonstrable evidence of unity in the House on fiscal responsibility, where as the

fiscally irresponsible are breaking apart at the seams. Adding Clyde’s resolution to the calendar

will suck the oxygen out of the detractors from the good-faith negotiations and be redirected

towards misinformation on a piece of plastic attached to the end of a firearm turns it into a

machine gun.

There is also no significant grassroot support for this rule. The billionaire-funded astro-turf anti-

gun lobby has not shown sustained support from their donors for this rule. But coalitions of

Second Amendment supporters flooded Congressional offices with tens of thousands of

messages begging for a vote disapproving the draconian rule since the final rule’s announcement.

As if that weren’t enough, a series of coalition letters from Gun Owners of America

demonstrated disapproval by many leaders in the firearm industry, firearm sellers, and firearm

influencers — amounting to a combined audience of over 30 million.1 Hesitant members will go

back to their districts and need to explain why they stood with Biden on gun policy when he’s

polling at a mere 31% approval on that issue among U.S. adults.2

Voting on this rule will make it obvious which members support the Second Amendment.

Refusing to act will only hurt my colleagues’ election chances and further deteriorate the trust

Second Amendment supporters have with this Congress. If any member office still worries

opposing Biden’s rule will be harmful in any way to their constituents or election changes, either

I or my staff are happy to have a more detailed conversation. Finally, I want to thank House

1 Gun Owners of America, “Second Amendment Action Alliance” letter, “No Compromise Alliance” letter, and “Caliber Club Coalition” letter;

May 19, 2023.

2 Associated Press and NORC at the University of Chicago, “The May 2023 AP-NORC Center Poll” May 22, 2023leadership for taking the concerns of gun owners seriously. The willingness to keep

communications open with both out-spoken pro-Second Amendment members and others on the

fence is deeply appreciated.