Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond commends coalition win on gun rule

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond on Wednesday, commended the latest ruling by the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of Oklahoma stating he is pleased with the victory and the fight continues.

According to the AG’s office, a 25-state coalition and other plaintiffs fighting to block a new Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) rule to reclassify pistols equipped with stabilizing braces as National Firearms Act-regulated short-barreled rifles has been sent back to district court.

The decision was announced last week reverses a lower court’s denial of a preliminary injunction on the rule, according to Drummond.

“The rule would add unnecessary regulations to millions of firearms that have been possessed legally for years. It far exceeds the ATF’s authority and I look forward to continue fighting against this blatant overreach by the Biden-Harris Administration.”

Attorney General Gentner Drummond

In addition to state attorneys general, plaintiffs include the Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition, firearm manufacturers and gun owners. The Eighth Circuit noted the ATF rule lacks clear guidance for gun owners and manufacturers to know whether they would be breaking the law, says Drummond.

“The Final Rule represents a sea change in how the ATF evaluates stabilizing braces,” the opinion states. “The consequence of the ATF’s about-face is that many individuals, relying on the ATF’s previous classifications, were apparently committing felonies for years by possessing braced weapons.”

Here is the opinion .

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