Posted on 08/09/2026 6:57:10 AM PDT by MtnClimber
The Second Amendment is a bit less of a second-class right--maybe...
hat are commonly called “braced” pistols but are actually short-barreled rifles—SBRs—are legal, or they’re not, until they’re legal again, until they’re not. Quick: is this an illegal short-barreled rifle?
Graphic: Author
That’s the problem, isn’t it? Braced pistols that are really SBRs are rifles—or pistol-caliber carbines--with barrels less than the federal 16” minimum, and stocks that make them shorter overall than the federal 26” minimum. No, that isn’t an SBR. It’s a KelTec CMR30, which is a legal rifle with a 16” barrel and is 29.9” long.
The law that restricts SBRs, suppressors, and automatic weapons is the 1934 National Firearms Act, written as a tax law that imposed a $200 non-transferable tax on those guns and suppressors. President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill eliminated the tax component, which was the act’s only reason for existing, so it’s certainly unconstitutional. Yet to legally own an SBR, or suppressor—automatic weapons are another matter—one must submit fingerprints, fill out plenty of federal paperwork, and get permission first.
That’s why Americans have had to use the “braced pistol” camouflage to own an SBR. Braced pistols are legal; SBRs aren’t--sort of. A braced pistol has a shorter-than-normal stock—a “brace”--with a means—usually a Velcro strap—to affix the stock to a forearm. It all depends on the ATF’s whims. It’s an issue I addressed in March at my home blog. statelymcdanielmanor.wordpress.com/2026/03/25/is-it-safe-to-buy-a-pdw-sbr/
Under Biden, they were legal, then they weren’t, then they were legal again, and then people were getting prosecuted, then Trump became president, and they weren’t. But the NFA still exists, and a future ATF could decide they weren’t legal again, making millions of Americans instant felons for owning weapons perfectly legal the day before.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
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A SBR seems ideal for a home defense gun.
I thought that CARBINES were short barreled rifles.............
Wait ‘til they discover that young male fighting age Mooselimb “immigrants”, or Black US Citizens are actively training with them.
The Ruling Class is gonna bring the hammer down again, like RWR did in California.
Get prepped, Brothers and Sisters.
Pop is hitting the fan.
As long as their overall length is >= 26 in
I good way to go deaf.
Like most things in life, there are always trade-offs. Rifle cartridges (i.e. 5.56) does raise the risk of over penetration of walls in an indoor shooting scenario; probably not ideal in a condo or apartment setting or even a large family home with multiple bedrooms. Some folks might be better served with a pistol caliber carbine, short barrel shotgun or high capacity handgun.
Successful home defense begins long before anyone even thinks of trespassing on the property, with careful appraisal and assessment of the individual circumstances and tactical requirements one is most likely to face.
Fortunately, the American firearms industry is diverse enough that there are products for almost every niche, and repeal of the NFA would allow for even more diversity for the American citizen.
No one’s life liberty or property are safe as long as congress (or a court) are in session.
The NFA originally restricted barrels under 18”. After WWII, when the government was trying to unload a sh*t-ton of M1 carbines it was conveniently changed to 16”, although the 18” requirement was maintained for shotguns. The standard issue military M4 carbine has a barrel length of 14.5” so a civilianized version, even if semi-auto only, would still fall under the NFA definition of an SBR.
A few years ago I built a SBR AR with a pistol brace. I had to log in every few months to figure out if I was a felon or not. I replace the barrel with one 16 inches long because I got sick of the ridiculous laws. I waisted over 200 bucks.
Also shooting an SBR is hard on the ears even with hearing protection.
Just don’t try to use the dreaded and feared bump stock.
What makes a SBR has become a hodgepodge of arbitrary regulations. And these change constantly.
Right, it's always good to design in a kill zone.
Right, it's always good to design in a kill zone.
That's why you get one with a threaded barrel and attach a so-called silencer.
I’m against the pistol brace argument.
That was just a lame attempt by gun owners to Symantec their way into getting what they want. That’s a Democrat tactic.
We should have no issues whatsoever simply eliminating a length requirement. What’s that? We do? Oh then we need to get those who stand in the way of our rights to stand in the unemployment line then.
Im old. Im mostly below the radar. Most would find me boring. I don’t give a rodents rear what some bureaucrat in DC thinks is legal. What I own is mine and they can go romance themselves.
It's time to disband the ATF and save taxpayers millions, if not billions, of dollars.
The original function of the ATF was to enforce tax laws pertaining to alcohol, tobacco and firearms.
If there are no longer taxes applying to the possession of specific firearms there is no longer a reason PRETENSE for the ATF to have any authority over the sale of firearms.
The ATF has outlived its purpose for existing.
RUBY RIDGE 1992
https://tinyurl.com/WeaverEntrapment
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) initiated the chain of events leading to the 1992 Ruby Ridge standoff
and the murder of Randy Weaver's wife Vicki Weaver, son Samuel Weaver, and the Weaver family dog, Striker.The ATF entrapped Randy Weaver into selling illegal short-barreled shotguns in an attempt to turn him into an informant.
ATF agents pressured Weaver to act as an informant against the Aryan Nations but he refused.
Then they filed charges that ultimately led to the fatal 11-day siege by the U.S. Marshals and the murder of his family.
The ATF even outlawed the use of rubber bands!!!
I’m going to register all my crap anyway while there’s no tax. They already have on file everything I’ve ever bought in a gun store anyway. Yes, all the way back to over fifty years ago.
I don’t trust any politician to do what’s right anymore. We are one election from becoming a communist dictatorship anyway. Good luck everyone. Every time there’s light at the end of the tunnel it’s just another runaway freight train. This is no exception.
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