Statement of Administration Policy: H.J. Res. 44 - A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of the Rule Submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Relating to "Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached 'Stabilizing Braces'"

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY

(House Rules)
(Rep. Clyde, R-GA, and 188 cosponsors)

The Administration strongly opposes H.J. Res. 44, Disapproving the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rule relating to "Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached 'Stabilizing Braces'". For decades, Federal law has placed stricter regulations on certain types of firearms, including short-barreled rifles. The rationale is clear: short-barreled rifles are more concealable than long guns, yet more dangerous and accurate at a distance than traditional pistols. For these reasons, they are particularly lethal, which is why Congress has deemed them to be dangerous and unusual weapons subject to strict regulation since 1934. Recently, however, the gun industry has circumvented this longstanding law by manufacturing and selling so-called "stabilizing braces" that convert heavy pistols into short-barreled rifles. As a result of this industry innovation, in the past few years we have witnessed mass shooters - including those in Dayton, Ohio, and Boulder, Colorado - use these "brace" devices on heavy pistols in order to inflict mass carnage.

In January 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a final rule - after a 90-day notice and comment period - to address the gun industry's evasions of Federal law by making explicit that certain firearms equipped with an accessory, component, or other rearward attachment (like a "stabilizing brace") are short-barreled rifles that are uniquely dangerous and regulated under existing law. Even though Congressional Republicans should take additional action to keep these and other dangerous weapons off our streets, they are instead pushing a resolution to reverse this rule and the progress we have made to enforce existing statutory requirements on these dangerous weapons.

This Administration has no higher priority than keeping the American people safe, which is jeopardized with a vote in support of a resolution that makes it easier for mass shooters to obtain these deadly weapons.

If H.J. Res. 44 were presented to the President, he would veto it.