School me on AR15 pistol laws

[hunterd05]

I have never been a fan of AR15 pistols personally so I haven't followed the law changes closely but do know that there was a bunch of buzz about pistol braces and registry as SBR's. While I have been in Denver for the last few days and looking at gun shops for fun, I am seeing a ton of AR pistols for sale. Are owners now required to register these as SBR's?

[SpamOnRye]

There is a lot going on with the new regulations concerning SBR/pistol classification. In a nutshell, don’t put a brace on anything. You can also file a form 1 to SBR your short blaster because I’m a believer that braces belong on teeth, not guns.

[Sawin]

I thought the brace rule was struck down... ATF can't make laws....

[dbgunner]

My understanding is that there is only a temporary injunction in place that provides relief to members of GOA (Gun Owners of America) and FPC (Firearms Policy Coalition). They are both plaintiffs in current lawsuits.
Good reason to join one of these fine organizations.
For more detailed info, I recommend the "Armed Scholar" or "Washington Gun Law" on YouTube. Both excellent sources of info. Both are attorneys but explain things in simple and easy to understand manner.

[MED]

I have never been a fan of AR15 pistols personally so I haven't followed the law changes closely but do know that there was a bunch of buzz about pistol braces and registry as SBR's. While I have been in Denver for the last few days and looking at gun shops for fun, I am seeing a ton of AR pistols for sale. Are owners now required to register these as SBR's?

1. Pistols are legal as long as they don't have a stock and they were transferred initially 4473 as a pistol or (4473 as a receiver and built initially as a pistol.) Do not turn a transferred rifle into a pistol. You do not need to register a pistol as an SBR if it is in a pistol configuration, and it meets the previous 4473 requirements. Do not put a forward grip on a pistol. An angled one was "OK" at one time but I think that changed as well. I never put any kind of forward grip or hand stop on a pistol; stay away from doing that.
2. If you own a pistol or change the configuration and/or have parts to change the configuration, make sure you understand the constructive intent administrative law as well as the Thompson Contender supreme court decision. You can easily violate the NFA regs with spare parts you have stored with your pistol.
3. Pistol braces are murky at best. The new rules are very subjective as to whether a brace makes it an SBR. Whether you can keep the brace or any other stock as parts is dependent on a complete understanding of #2.