Federal Government Abandons Pistol Brace Ban Appeal

The federal government has officially backed down from its contentious pistol brace regulation, agreeing this week to dismiss its ongoing appeal in a landmark Second Amendment case that struck down the federal ban.

Legal Victory in Mock v Bondi Case

Court Ruling Details

The pivotal case, Mock v Bondi, resulted in a decisive summary judgment victory last July for the coalition of plaintiffs challenging the ATF's regulatory authority. The successful legal team included individual brace owner William Mock, firearms manufacturer Maxim Defense, and the Firearms Policy Coalition, who secured a favorable ruling from a New Orleans-based District Court that completely vacated the controversial ATF rule.

Circuit Court Warning Signs

Prior to this week's dismissal, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals had already signaled serious concerns about the regulation, cautioning the Justice Department that the ATF's pistol brace rule appeared to exceed the agency's statutory authority.

Joint Dismissal Solidifies Pro-Second Amendment Win

The dismissal agreement, reached jointly between the federal government and the FPC-led coalition of co-plaintiffs, effectively ends the legal battle with a clear victory for Second Amendment advocates.

Legal Team Reaction

"The government is finally retreating from the Biden Administration's patently unlawful effort to turn millions of peaceable people into felons by decree," stated FPC Action Foundation President Cody J. Wisniewski, who served as an attorney for the challenging parties. "This horrible rule was a perversion of our system of limited government, so we're glad to see this case resolved in favor of liberty and the rule of law."

Impact on Firearms Industry and Gun Owners

Market Scale and Implications

The now-defunct ban, which the ATF implemented without Congressional authorization in early 2023, targeted an estimated 40 million pistol braces already in circulation according to Congressional Research Service data. This massive market impact underscored the regulation's sweeping reach across the American firearms community.

Industry Perspective

"This is a clear-cut victory and monumental step in preserving gun rights for future generations and safeguarding the firearms ecosystem from regulatory overreach," declared David Farrell, a vice president at Maxim Defense. "This important achievement is the result of tireless dedication from the entire litigation team, not to mention the many supporters who have stood with us every single day. When we fight boldly and stand united, freedom prevails."

Broader Constitutional Implications

The federal government's retreat from this appeal represents a significant acknowledgment of the limitations on executive agency power and reinforces the principle that major regulatory changes affecting constitutional rights require proper legislative authorization rather than administrative decree.