DOJ proposes rule and model legislation to reduce gun violence
New steps would enhance enforcement of the National Firearms Act and aid states in drafting “extreme risk protection order” laws
The Department of Justice announced two new steps to help address the continuing epidemic of gun violence affecting communities across the country. First, the department issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that makes clear that when individuals use accessories to convert pistols into short-barreled rifles, they must comply with the heightened regulations on those dangerous and easily concealable weapons. Second, the department published model legislation to help states craft their own “extreme risk protection order” laws, sometimes called “red flag” laws.
By sending the proposed rule to the Federal Register and publishing the model legislation, the department has met the deadlines that the Attorney General announced alongside President Biden in April.