Have you ever wanted your firearm to look like the ones in the movies? Independent Program Attorney Edwin Walker is letting pro-2A people like you know what’s legal and not legal to add to your firearms under federal law, so you can lawfully have the most tricked-out gun around.

Firearms are becoming more and more modular. This means that you can add or attach many different devices and accessories. But you may wonder, are any of these illegal? Do they make my firearm illegal? Currently, under federal law, all accessories are legal to have and attach to your rifle…for now.

Are Bump Stocks Legal?

You may have heard about bump stocks. It’s a plastic stock with a piece that covers the trigger. The Department of Justice has recently proposed a federal Second- Amendment-related regulation that would redefine the word “machinegun” to include: “bump-stock-type devices that allow a semi-automatic firearm to shoot more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger by harnessing the recoil energy of the semi-automatic firearm to which it is affixed so that the trigger resets and continues firing without additional physical manipulation of the trigger by the shooter.”

Enjoying this content? Find out how you can get more essential updates and self-defense information just like this sent straight to your inbox.

If this proposed 2A-related regulation is made final, and becomes effective after the mandatory comment period, it will require all bump-stock-type devices currently possessed by law-abiding, pro-2A citizens to be surrendered, destroyed, or rendered permanently inoperable. Even though this 2A accessory has been produced for almost 10 years and has previously been approved by the ATF as a completely lawful device.

Unfortunately, when it was used in the October 2017 Las Vegas shooting, and the news media and politicians continuously stated that a bump stock turns a semi-automatic rifle into a machine gun, its fate was sealed.

Legal Handgun Accessories

Most accessories you may want to add to your handgun are legal under federal law. However, there are two big exceptions. If you 1. add a vertical foregrip or 2. stock to your handgun, you have made it a NFA weapon. This is illegal to make or possess without ATF approval and a tax stamp.

AR-15 Pistol Accessories & AR Attachments

This has caused many pro-2A people to wonder about attaching a stabilizing arm brace to a handgun, in particular, attaching them to AR pistols. The ATF has determined that as long as you use the stabilizing brace as it was designed and you do not alter it for the purposes of intentionally using it to fire the handgun from your shoulder, you are NOT breaking the law. This shows how accessories can be legal, but its misuse may be illegal.

For example, to answer the question “Can I have a laser-guided grenade launcher?” The ATF says “Yes, if it has been designed or redesigned for use as: a signaling, pyrotechnic, line-throwing, safety, or similar device.” However, if you possess a grenade or rocket launcher in conjunction with any anti-personnel projectiles, such as rockets, grenades, beanbags, or cartridges filled with pellets or balls, it is an ATF-regulated NFA destructive device. So, you can have the launcher, but just be careful what you launch out of it.

Stay tuned for part 2 in our next 2A Times newsletter, where you’ll hear from your pro-2A Independent Program Attorney on what the laws of your state say regarding adding accessories to your firearms!

BECOME A MEMBER

Your Protection Starts Here!

There’s nothing more important than protecting yourself and your family. By joining our community of members, you can count on our self-defense coverage, with meaningful options and benefits that make a real difference.

BECOME A MEMBER

The information provided in this presentation is intended to provide general information to individuals and is not legal advice. The information included in this publication may not be quoted or referred to in any other publication without the prior written consent of U.S. LawShield, to be given or withheld at our discretion. The information is not a substitute for, and does not replace the advice or representation of a licensed attorney. We strive to ensure the information included in this publication is accurate and current, however, no claim is made to the accuracy of the information and we are not responsible for any consequences that may result from the use of information in this publication. The use of this publication does not create an attorney-client relationship between U.S. LawShield, any independent program attorney, and any individual.