Short-barreled rifle
Short-barreled rifle broadly refers to any rifle with an unusually short barrel. The term carbine describes a production rifle with a reduced barrel length for easier handling in confined spaces. Concern about concealment for illegal purposes has encouraged regulations specifying minimum barrel lengths and overall lengths.
Measurement method
Barrel length is measured from the end of the
Production
The examples and perspective in this section deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (April 2024) |
Short-barreled rifles can be created through end-user modification by trimming down a larger rifle, by building a rifle with an original barrel shorter than 16 in (41 cm), or by adding a shoulder stock to a handgun which is fitted with a barrel shorter than 16 in (41 cm), which would legally redefine it as a rifle rather than a handgun. In the United States, each of these processes must legally be accompanied by ATF registration.
Many older handguns originally designed with shoulder stocks, such as broomhandle Mausers, Lugers, Browning Hi-Power and Inglis as well as many lever action Winchesters with 14 to 15.5 inch barrels, are considered relics instead of NFA restricted, and not regulated by federal SBR rules; however, they may still be subject to local laws.[2] The ATF maintains a list of Curio & Relic of gun models and serial number ranges. While they are not considered NFA devices under the 1934 National Firearms Act, most are regulated by the Gun Control Act of 1968.[3] Those made before 1899 and exempt in the ATF Curio and Relic list, are also exempt from the GCA.
Pistol brace
The examples and perspective in this section deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (April 2024) |
When used as designed, a
On 31 January 2023 ATF published a 52-page regulation (Final Rule 2021R-08F) outlining a point-based worksheet of stabilizing brace criteria. Existing stabilizing braces not conforming to the new criteria were required to be registered by 23 May 2023. After that date, non-conforming stabilizing braces in the United States are regulated as short-barreled rifles.[5][6] In Mock v Garland, the ATF was prohibited from enforcing this regulation in a decision issued in October 2023.[7]
Legislative history
British, American, and Canadian lawmakers tightened laws on concealable weapons in the 1930s.[8]
United States
The United States'
As a result of the Supreme Court decision in United States v. Thompson/Center Arms Company, 504 U.S. 505 (1992), it is not illegal to possess a "kit" allowing a handgun to be fitted with a buttstock and with barrels both under and over the 16 inch minimum for a rifle, so long as the firearm is only assembled into legal (handgun with no buttstock, rifle with buttstock and 16 inch or longer barrel) configurations. Assembling the firearm into an NFA-regulated configuration (rifle with buttstock but barrel shorter than 16 inches) would be a violation of the National Firearms Act.[11]
Canada
Canadian regulations prohibit firearms adapted from a rifle or shotgun by sawing, cutting or any other alteration to an overall length less than 660 mm (26 in) or a barrel length less than 457 mm (18.0 in). Handguns with a barrel length less than 105 mm (4.1 in) are also prohibited.[12]
Semi-automatic, centerfire firearms with a barrel shorter than 470mm (18.5 in) are restricted. Any firearm that can be fired in a folded configuration where the overall length is shorter than 660 mm (26 in) is restricted, however this minimum length does not apply to firearms that are not semi-automatic and centerfire and which do not fold or reduce in length in another way. Possessing a restricted firearm requires additional licensing beyond that required for non-restricted firearms.[12]
United Kingdom
United Kingdom regulations include among prohibited, without authority, firearms breechloading rifles with an overall fixed length less than 60 cm (24 in) or with a barrel length less than 30 cm (12 in). All such weapons are considered small firearrms[13] and are covered in general prohibition by s5 of the Firearms Act 1968.
Australia
Legally, most Australian legislation prescribes a minimum allowable barrel length which is typically about 330 mm (13 in) for rifles.[14]
See also
References
- ^ "US Code, Title 18 > Part I > Chapter 44 > § 921 > a > 8".
- ^ ATF Curio and Relic List.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4289-5186-0.
- ^ Kingery, Max M. "OPEN LETTER ON THE RESIGN OF "STABILIZING BRACES"" (PDF).
- ^ "Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached "Stabilizing Braces"". Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ Cooper, Brett (19 July 2023). "The ATF's Latest Proposed Regulation Could Make 40 Million Gun Owners Felons Overnight". The Prickly Pear. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ Mock v Garland, October 2, 2023.
- ISBN 9781442646391.
- ^ McCollum, Ian. "Why Are Short Barreled Rifles Actually Regulated in the US?" (video). Forgotten Weapons. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-4402-3848-2.
- ^ https://www.atf.gov/file/55526/download [bare URL PDF]
- ^ a b "Classes of Firearms". Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. London: The Stationery Office. 1997. p. 9.
- ^ Smith, Geoff. "The handgun in Australia today". Sporters Shooting Association of Australia. Retrieved 14 July 2020.