# Plain Language Summary: Stabilizing Braces Funding Bill

This bill prevents the federal government from spending any money to enforce a rule created by the Department of Justice about firearms with "stabilizing braces." To understand what this means, you need to know what a stabilizing brace is: it's a device that attaches to the back of a pistol to help steady it, making it easier to aim and fire. The Justice Department created a rule that treats certain pistols with these braces as short-barreled rifles, which are heavily regulated under federal gun laws and require special registration and licensing.

If this bill passes, the federal government cannot use taxpayer money to enforce that rule. This means the FBI, ATF (the agency that regulates firearms), and other federal law enforcement agencies would not be able to spend resources investigating, prosecuting, or penalizing people who own or sell pistols with stabilizing braces. In practical terms, people who own these devices would face no federal consequences for having them, and gun dealers could sell them without worrying about federal enforcement action.

The bill essentially freezes the government's ability to implement the Justice Department's rule by cutting off its funding. This is significant because it represents a direct conflict between Congress and the executive branch over gun regulations. Gun rights advocates support this bill because they view the stabilizing brace rule as an overreach that restricts gun ownership. Gun control advocates oppose it because they see the rule as a reasonable safety measure to prevent people from converting pistols into more dangerous weapons. The outcome depends on whether Congress votes to pass it and whether the President signs it into law.

A bill to provide that no Federal funds may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the rule of the Department of Justice entitled "Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached 'Stabilizing Braces'".

Kennedy, John

 <p>This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to implement, administer, or enforce the rule issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives titled&nbsp;<i>Factoring Criteria for Firearms With Attached &quot;Stabilizing Braces.&quot;</i> The rule establishes criteria for determining whether a firearm equipped with an attached stabilizing brace that facilitates shoulder fire is a rifle subject to regulation (e.g., registration) under the National Firearms Act.</p>