An apparatus, the apparatus comprising: (a) a handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly comprises: (i) a first arm, (ii) a second arm, wherein the second arm is configured to pivotably couple with the first arm at a proximal pivot location, and (iii) a latching lever pivotably coupled with the first arm at a distal pivot location; (b) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a first jaw extending distally from the first arm, and (ii) a second jaw extending distally from the second arm, wherein the second jaw is configured to pivot relative to the first jaw between an open configuration, a partially closed configuration, and a fully closed configuration, wherein the latching lever is configured to engage the second arm or the second jaw to pivot the second jaw from the partially closed configuration toward the fully closed configuration; (c) a firing assembly configured to sever tissue captured between the first jaw and the second jaw in the fully closed configuration; and (d) a release assembly configured to urge the latching lever away from the first arm to pivot the second jaw from the fully closed position toward the partially closed position, wherein the firing assembly comprises an actuator configured to translate relative to the first handle and the second handle wherein the release assembly further comprises a rotating body pivotally coupled to either the first handle or the second handle, characterized in that the rotating body comprises a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg is configured to abut against the actuator to pivot the rotating body, wherein the second leg is configured to urge the latching lever away from the first arm in response to the actuator pivoting the rotating body. (a) a handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly comprises: (i) a first arm, (ii) a second arm, wherein the second arm is configured to pivotably couple with the first arm at a proximal pivot location, and (iii) a latching lever pivotably coupled with the first arm at a distal pivot location; (i) a first arm, (ii) a second arm, wherein the second arm is configured to pivotably couple with the first arm at a proximal pivot location, and (iii) a latching lever pivotably coupled with the first arm at a distal pivot location; (b) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a first jaw extending distally from the first arm, and (ii) a second jaw extending distally from the second arm, wherein the second jaw is configured to pivot relative to the first jaw between an open configuration, a partially closed configuration, and a fully closed configuration, wherein the latching lever is configured to engage the second arm or the second jaw to pivot the second jaw from the partially closed configuration toward the fully closed configuration; (i) a first jaw extending distally from the first arm, and (ii) a second jaw extending distally from the second arm, wherein the second jaw is configured to pivot relative to the first jaw between an open configuration, a partially closed configuration, and a fully closed configuration, wherein the latching lever is configured to engage the second arm or the second jaw to pivot the second jaw from the partially closed configuration toward the fully closed configuration; (c) a firing assembly configured to sever tissue captured between the first jaw and the second jaw in the fully closed configuration; and (d) a release assembly configured to urge the latching lever away from the first arm to pivot the second jaw from the fully closed position toward the partially closed position, wherein the firing assembly comprises an actuator configured to translate relative to the first handle and the second handle wherein the release assembly further comprises a rotating body pivotally coupled to either the first handle or the second handle, characterized in that the rotating body comprises a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg is configured to abut against the actuator to pivot the rotating body, wherein the second leg is configured to urge the latching lever away from the first arm in response to the actuator pivoting the rotating body.