So you have a “pistol” equipped with a support brace. Welcome to the club alongside about 30+ million other Americans.
At the end of January, the ATF posted new rules that now define those formerly “a-okay” items as now making your pistol a “short-barreled rifle” (SBR) as of May 30th.
May 30th is coming up quickly. You have until then to take steps to remain legal under federal rules.
Right now, it’s looking doubtful we’ll have a nationwide injunction blocking the new rule. So it’s time to take action. You can do nothing, but you risk serious time in Club Fed if you opt for the “Molon Labe” option.
If you want to keep your braced gun in its current configuration, you will need to register it as a “Short-Barreled Rifle” with the BATF using eForm 1.
To do so in Illinois, you’ll need a Curios & Relics Federal Firearms License to have a “short barreled rifle.” You’ll also need two hard-copy fingerprint cards.
You still have time – barely – to apply for your C&R license. ATF typically has about a three-week processing time. You can apply at the BATF website (google “FFL license application“).
Go to the BATF web, locate the eForm 1 and start filling it out. You’ll need to file for the license ahead of the May 30th effective date for the new rule-making to remain 100% legal. Initiating the application will keep you legal. It does not have to be approved and finalized by May 30.
Don’t care about keeping the current configuration? No problem. You can remove the support brace and any mounting hardware to remain legal. In the AR-platform guns, you can replace the sub-16” barreled upper with a 16+” barreled upper.
You can also add a long flash suppressor and permanently affix that. The only problem there is that said flash suppressor is a felony item now thanks to the new Illinois Firearm Ban Act.
The other alternatives involve surrendering them to the police or destroying them. Neither of those options seems all that bright.
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