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Changes to Firearm Definitions: Rifles and Pistols Clarified

This act modifies the definitions of rifles and pistols in federal law, potentially affecting how certain firearms are classified. The new rules aim to clarify that pistols with rear braces are not automatically considered rifles, which could be significant for owners of such weapons.
Key points
New rifle definition: a weapon designed to be fired from the shoulder, firing a single projectile per trigger pull.
Pistols with rear braces will not be automatically classified as rifles, potentially impacting their legal status.
The Attorney General has 60 days to clarify the definition of a pistol in federal regulations.
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Status:
Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_3823
Sponsor: Rep. Good, Bob [R-VA-5]
Process start date: 2021-06-11
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

PISTOL Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_3823.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-06-11.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • New rifle definition: a weapon designed to be fired from the shoulder, firing a single projectile per trigger pull.
  • Pistols with rear braces will not be automatically classified as rifles, potentially impacting their legal status.
  • The Attorney General has 60 days to clarify the definition of a pistol in federal regulations.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Good, Bob [R-VA-5].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-28.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Courts and Law Security