Pistol Brace Protection Act

To amend the National Firearms Act to provide an exception for stabilizing braces, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pistol Brace Protection Act 2. Modification of definition of firearm (a) Firearm definitions in title 18, United States Code Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (4)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking (other than a shotgun or a shotgun shell which the Attorney General finds is generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes) (other than a shotgun, a shotgun shell, or a firearm excluded from the definition of the term shotgun (B) in the flush text following subparagraph (C), by striking which the owner intends to use solely for sporting, recreational or cultural purposes (2) in paragraph (5)— (A) by inserting (A) (5) (B) by adding at the end the following: (B) (i) The term shotgun (I) is attachable or provides support to the user’s arm; and (II) the user intends to fire with a single hand. (ii) For purposes of clause (i), documented use with 2 hands or firing from the shoulder does not establish that a user does not intend to fire the pistol or other firearm with a single hand. ; and (3) in paragraph (7)— (A) by inserting (A) (7) (B) by adding at the end the following: (B) (i) The term rifle (I) is attachable or provides support to the user’s arm; and (II) the user intends to fire with a single hand. (ii) For purposes of clause (i), documented use with 2 hands or firing from the shoulder does not establish that a user does not intend to fire the pistol with a single hand. . (b) National Firearms Act Section 5845 (1) in subsection (c)— (A) by striking The term rifle (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), the term rifle ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (2) Exception (A) In general The term rifle (i) is equipped with a device which is designed, manufactured, and intended to allow the operation of a pistol with a single hand through the use of a brace that— (I) is attachable, or (II) provides support to the user’s arm, and (ii) the user intends to fire with a single hand. (B) Exclusion For purposes of clause (ii) of subparagraph (A), any documented use of a pistol described in such subparagraph with 2 hands or firing from the shoulder shall not establish that a user does not intend to fire such pistol with a single hand. ; (2) in subsection (d)— (A) by striking The term shotgun (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), the term shotgun ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (2) Exception (A) In general The term shotgun (i) is equipped with a device which is designed, manufactured, and intended to allow the operation of a pistol with a single hand through the use of a brace that— (I) is attachable, or (II) provides support to the user’s arm, and (ii) the user intends to fire with a single hand. (B) Exclusion For purposes of clause (ii) of subparagraph (A), any documented use of a pistol or other weapon described in such subparagraph with 2 hands or firing from the shoulder shall not establish that a user does not intend to fire such pistol or other weapon with a single hand. ; (3) in subsection (e)— (A) by striking a pistol or revolver having a barrel with a smooth bore designed or redesigned to fire a fixed shotgun shell, (B) by striking having a rifled bore, or rifled bores (4) in subsection (f), by striking except a shotgun or shotgun shell which the Secretary finds is generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes other than a shotgun, a shotgun shell, or a firearm excluded from the definition of the term ‘shotgun’ under subsection (d) (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

Summary: Pistol Brace Protection Act This bill removes certain brace-equipped firearms from regulation under certain federal firearms laws. Specifically, under the bill, a pistol that that is equipped with an attachable stabilizing brace (or arm brace) that allows the pistol to be fired with one hand is not a rifle or shotgun subject to regulation (e.g., registration requirements) under the National Firearms Act.