Greene County Sheriff’s Office will not enforce new ATF rule

On Jan. 13 of this year, Merrick Garland, the United States attorney general, signed ATF final rule 2021R-08F, “Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces’” which requires firearm owners of “short barrel rifles” (SBRs) as defined by the rule must either register their firearms with the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (AFT) or meet certain other requirements by Wednesday, May 31. However, Jim Arnott, Greene County sheriff, said he won’t make any gun owners in Greene County either register, destroy or turn over their firearms.
“The Greene County Sheriff’s Office will not be enforcing the ruling to register previously manufactured ‘AR’-type pistols,” he said.

What is rule 2021R-08F?
Rule 2021R-08F states that firearms equipped with a stabilizing brace or other reward attachment and that have a barrel of under 16 inches in length are considered SBRs. It also states that the owners of SBRs must do one of the following by May 31: Replace the short barrel with a barrel that is 16 inches or longer, remove the stabilizing brace in such a way that it can’t be reattached, register the SBR with the ATF (according to information provided by the ATF, gunowners who register their SBRs by May 31 will not have to pay the $200 making tax), turn over the SBR to the local ATF office, or destroy the SBR. Gun owners who possess an unregistered SBR after May 31 can be punished with up to 10 years in prison, $10,000 in fines, or both.

Arnott will not enforce the rule
In response to a media inquiry, Arnott said the Greene County Sheriff’s Office will not enforce the rule because it goes against state law.
“(There) seems to be a conflict with Missouri State Statutes and this ruling,” he said. Asked if any other law enforcement agency could enforce the rule in Greene County, Arnott said, “Not to my knowledge,” adding that he was not concerned that there would be any repercussions against him or the sheriff’s office for not enforcing the rule.
For those who are willing to register their firearms that are now considered SBRs under the ruling, Arnott said there is time to do so and avoid the $200 making tax.
“If you possess one of these previously manufactured ‘AR’-type pistols, you have a 120-day grace period for an NFA registration,” he said.

More info:
For more information on Rule 2021R-08F, go online to www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/factoring-criteria-firearms-attached-s....