Congressmen Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, and Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, introduced H.R. 1961 Wednesday. The ATF Accountability Act of 2021 aims to create much-needed transparency and a review process against arbitrary ATF determinations.

ATF Accountability Act of 2021

This is bipartisan legislation, meaning Crenshaw and Cuellar — a Republican and Democrat, respectively — reached across the floor and worked together on it. The congressmen also worked with the Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition (FRAC) in drafting the bill. The organization advocates for greater transparency in Washington, which often proves an enigma in relation to gun laws.

“FRAC member companies strongly support The ATF Accountability Act of 2021 as it promotes sound regulatory procedures for an industry struggling to keep pace with an agency that has been issuing private legal interpretations in an ad hoc and inconsistent manner for years,” said a FRAC statement. “The proposed procedures will help alleviate regulatory uncertainty and allow licensees to ensure compliance with federal law through a more fair and transparent process within the ATF.”

If you need an example, look no further than the ongoing saga of the pistol brace. The ATF continues to flip-flop on its intentions and rulings. And now a Biden White House will likely order the ATF to finally reserve its pistol brace legality opinion. Obviously, we just want the ATF to leave pistol braces alone. But for manufacturers, the lack of transparency could put companies out of business. But no company likely feels the pistol brace heat quite like SB Tactical.

SB Tactical Weighs In

“As a FRAC member, SB Tactical wholeheartedly supports the ATF Accountability Act of 2021, as it promotes sound regulatory procedures for an industry struggling to keep pace with an agency that has been issuing private legal interpretations in an ad hoc and inconsistent manner for years,” said an SB Tactical statement. “The proposed procedures will help alleviate regulatory uncertainty and allow licensees to ensure compliance with federal law through a more fair and transparent process within the ATF.”

Rep. Andrew Clyde recently proposed his Ensuring SAFE-T Act to limit government transfer approval delays. Now the Texas congressmen attempt to reign back the ATF. There finally appears to be some pushback against recent over-the-top gun control attempts. But the question remains: is it too little, too late? Let’s hope not, as the very survival of the Second Amendment hangs in the balance.