Comment on FR Doc # 2026-08930

Subject: Comment Supporting Repeal of the 2023 Stabilizing-Brace Rule — RIN 1140-AA98 I strongly support ATF’s proposal to remove the regulatory language added by the 2023 stabilizing-brace rule. That rule created uncertainty for law-abiding firearm owners by attempting to transform commonly owned firearms into regulated short-barreled rifles through vague, subjective and shifting criteria. Americans should not face the threat of criminal penalties based on an agency’s interpretation of ordinary accessories that were lawfully purchased and possessed for years. The proposed repeal is an important step toward restoring the proper limits of ATF’s authority. Congress writes criminal laws. Regulatory agencies should not expand the National Firearms Act through interpretation, guidance documents or subjective classification standards. I urge ATF to strengthen the final rule by clearly stating that the attachment or use of a stabilizing brace, standing alone, does not convert a pistol into a rifle or a short-barreled rifle. Any classification decision must be based strictly on the statutory text enacted by Congress, not on speculation about how an individual could potentially use a firearm. Law-abiding Americans deserve clear rules that can be understood without hiring an attorney or worrying that a future administration will reverse course again. ATF should finalize the repeal and adopt the narrowest interpretation consistent with the Second Amendment and the plain language of the statute.