Spokesman and “hero with a gun” Stephen Willeford explains why this is a huge win for private gun owners.
For the longest time, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has been pursuing the ban of pistol braces, believing them to be a dangerous component for anyone carrying a gun. However, a judge recently decided otherwise.
Earlier this week, United States District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that the ATF went beyond its power when putting together the rule against pistol braces.
“The Court is certainly sympathetic to ATF’s concerns over public safety in the wake of tragic mass shootings. The rule embodies salutary policy goals meant to protect vulnerable people in our society,” Kacsmaryk explained. “But public safety concerns must be addressed in ways that are lawful. The Rule is not.”
This isn’t the first time that the ATF was scolded for trying to go beyond its legacy reach. Back in August, a Fifth Circuit panel ruled that the group was going beyond its authority to reclassify guns with pistol braces as short-barrel rifles. Because the bureau was more legislating than regulating, it “must be set aside as unlawful or otherwise remanded for appropriate remediation.”
While this is hardly the last we’ll see of the ATF – or the Biden Administration – when it comes to gun violence, this is still a huge win for gun groups and private gun owners everywhere.
Joining us now to discuss this is Stephen Willeford, the spokesman for Gun Owners of America. As a private gun owners – and the “hero with a gun” in the 2017 Sutherland Springs incident – he firmly believes in the right for all to bear arms. His expertise will certainly be welcome on this subject.
Q&A:
- Let’s be honest – did the ATF really have anything to go on when they started enforcing rules surrounding pistol braces?
- Does the classification into short-barrel rifles even make sense? Or is that just technical jargon to make them sound more dangerous than they actually are?
- Tell us why pistol braces are so important for private gun owners.
- What do you think this victory says for your group, as well as private gun owners everywhere?
- Do you believe the ATF and the Biden Administration will try to go after a different restriction at this point, now that it seems their gun brace law is a no-go?
- You recently wrote a book called A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy, revolving around your 2017 “hero with a gun” situation. Tell us more about how this came together, and why it’s such an important read right now.
- Where can people find your book?
- Where can we learn more about you, as well as Gun Owners of America?
- You can learn more at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com. You can also read more about the Gun Owners of America at https://www.gunowners.org/.
About Stephen Willeford…
Stephen represents Gun Owners of America and is known around the country as the “good guy with the gun” for helping stop the largest Texas mass shooting in the history of the state in 2017. He is available to speak about all gun rights issues, as well as the importance of Gun Owners of America. You can read more about him at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com.
CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin at: geraldmcg@outlook.com or 919-437-0001.
