Biden Closes "AR Pistol" Loophole After Boulder

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by: Colorado Pols

President Joe Biden.

The Denver Post’s Justin Wingerter previewed a series of executive orders from President Joe Biden announced a short while ago this morning in response to recent mass shootings including the killing of ten people at a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder last month:

President Joe Biden’s administration will announce Thursday that it will further regulate a gun accessory allegedly used in the March 22 mass shooting in Boulder.

A senior administration official with knowledge of the coming executive orders said Wednesday that by early June, the U.S. Justice Department “will issue a proposed rule to make clear that when a device marketed as a stabilizing brace effectively turns a pistol into a short-barreled rifle, that firearm is subject to the requirements of the National Firearms Act.”

“As we know, the shooter in the Boulder tragedy last month used a pistol with an arm brace, which makes the firearm more stable and accurate,” added the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

In addition to this order to limit access to the specific configuration of AR-15 assault weapon used in the Boulder shooting, the Biden administration will also crack down on so-called “ghost guns,” guns fabricated at home using “finishing kits” and 3D printed parts to evade background checks. And in another nod to Colorado’s leadership on gun safety, the Department of Justice is being asked to draw up a “model” red-flag law to allow family members and law enforcement to temporarily take away guns from at-risk people like Colorado already has on the books.

In short, these are appropriate but limited actions that may nonetheless not satisfy the majority of the public in favor of stronger gun laws–but as NBC News reports they’re being characterized as just the beginning of a broader effort:

In a call with reporters Wednesday night, administration officials stressed that Thursday’s actions were just the first step and that Biden would still pursue legislative solutions to gun violence.

“This is an initial set of actions to make progress on President Biden’s gun violence reduction agenda,” one official said. “The administration will be pursuing legislative and executive actions at the same time. You will continue to hear the president call for Congress to pass legislation to reduce gun violence.”

As surely as we can predict another mass shooting tragedy, the debate over gun safety is far from over.

6 thoughts on “Biden Closes “AR Pistol” Loophole After Boulder”

bullshit! says:

April 8, 2021 at 10:38 am

This should be interesting. Will Negev defend his right to a SMALLER penis extender?

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Negev says:

April 8, 2021 at 11:17 am

bullsh*t! from the looks of your avatar I may need to

I wonder if Biden remembers that he was VP when the pistol brace was approved.

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1. JohnInDenver says:
  
  April 8, 2021 at 6:37 pm
  
  Just curious, Negev. Are you willing to accept the current levels of damage and regulatory mess or do you have a suggestions for improvement?
  
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  1. Negev says:
    
    April 8, 2021 at 8:26 pm
    
    While it is difficult to accept any level of damage it is disturbing to think that the full focus on mass shootings, which is responsible for 0.2% of gun deaths, is somehow the fix we all long for. Think about it. Allocating 100% of the effort to a >1% return is not common sense.
    
    Colorado has one of the most progressive set of gun laws on the books in the country. Private sale/gun show background checks, magazine restrictions, red flag laws – all intended to reduce gun deaths through sensible legislation starting in 2013.
    
    Since that time the CO gun murder rate has more than doubled.
    
    I have said it before and will say it again – The rush to ban these weapons is perpetuating their proliferation and contributing to the very damage you intend to prevent. Guns sales are at a historic high with 2 million guns sold in January alone , which should make a proponent of banning any weapon cringe.
    
    At this very moment there are 6,228 people waiting for their background check to clear in CO alone. Bidens speech today will fund the gun industry for the next decade in revenue this year. How does this help keep guns off the street and out of the hands of potential killers? It doesn't.
    
    Firearm background checks declined faster in 2017 than in any other time in recorded history. The president at the time showed little interest in banning anything. Companies like Bushmaster, infamous for the Sandy Hook shooting and the advertising lawsuit that followed, filed for bankruptcy due to falling sales in 2017, but now have made a comeback and are back in action, thanks in large part to the increase in demand for the very guns you hope to ban. And the cycle continues….
    
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    1. kwtree says:
      
      April 9, 2021 at 7:32 am
      
      Your crocodile tears concerning firearm deaths in Colorado aren’t convincing, Negev.
      You fought against the ERPO red flag bill, which is being used exactly as planned.
      
      Now you’re pushing back against the bill to mandate reporting of lost and stolen guns, which are highly likely to be used in gun crimes.
      
      Yes, firearm murders have doubled in Colorado since 2013 ( and population is up 18%). Yes, assault weapons are not the murder weapon of choice. But it’s not like you really care, as long as you and your friends still get to play with your favorite toys.
      
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MichaelBowman says:

April 8, 2021 at 12:49 pm

You mean we are going to start regulating our unregulated militia per the Constitution?!?

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