Hidden in Plain Sight: Amazon’s Sale of Disguised Gun Stabilizing Braces
Online shoppers browsing for bicycle parts on Amazon may have stumbled upon an item that seemed too good to be true: a pair of rubber handlebars priced at an unbeatable $26.99 with free Prime delivery. But upon closer inspection, some astute customers noticed something amiss.
“I’m confused, is this for a bike? This is a picture of a pistole (sic) brace,” one puzzled shopper inquired.
The thinly veiled response from another individual revealed the true nature of the product: an accessory designed to be attached to the back of an AR-style pistol or large handgun, enabling it to be shouldered and fired with enhanced stability and accuracy.
“This grip helps you ride your bike with more stability,” the reply stated. “Added bonus, makes a little more up close and personal if you shoulder this grip thus giving you even more driving accuracy.”
The listing, which Amazon promptly removed after being contacted by VICE News, was just one of over two dozen “stabilizing braces” available on the site despite a policy prohibiting the sale of such items and new federal regulations aimed at restricting their ownership.
Biden’s Crackdown on Stabilizing Braces
In April 2021, President Joe Biden announced plans to tighten regulations on stabilizing braces, following a series of high-profile shootings involving weapons equipped with these devices. The new rules, which took effect in January, require weapons with stabilizing braces or similar attachments to be registered with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) by May 31. Failure to register could result in a felony and up to 10 years in prison.
The rule change has faced legal challenges from pro-gun advocacy groups and red state leaders, who argue that it unfairly criminalizes responsible gun owners who legally purchased braces that were previously deemed legal.
Amazon’s Policy and Enforcement
While the ATF has stated that the new policy does not outlaw the sale or possession of stabilizing braces, Amazon’s terms of use for third-party sellers explicitly prohibit the listing or sale of these products. Justin Wagner, senior director of Investigations at Everytown for Gun Safety, emphasized that the listings for stabilizing braces, even those disguised as bike parts, violated Amazon’s own policies.
“Amazon’s firearms accessory sale policy only works if it’s enforced,” Wagner said. “Our nation’s largest online retailers shouldn’t be offering dangerous products that make shootings deadlier, let alone with free two-day shipping.”
Amazon acknowledged the issue and removed the offending listings, stating that such sales are prohibited and that they are taking corrective action against vendors engaging in deceptive practices.
Disguised Listings and Continued Availability
Despite Amazon’s efforts, several disguised listings for stabilizing braces remained available on the site as of Friday morning. A review of these listings revealed braces being advertised in various categories, including Tools & Home Improvement and Gunsmithing Tools, with some claiming to be “evasively listed” to avoid detection.
Customers who purchased the disguised braces left reviews that slyly alluded to their use as gun attachments, and some even posted photos of the braces installed on bicycles, highlighting the disparity between the product’s intended purpose and the seller’s deceptive marketing.
Legal Gray Area and Ongoing Litigation
The legal status of stabilizing braces is currently under debate in the courts. Lawsuits challenging the Biden administration’s new rules contend that the restrictions are arbitrary and will not effectively prevent shootings. Some argue that the ATF’s previous rulings that stabilizing braces were legal accessories for pistols should be upheld.
The new federal regulations exclude stabilizing braces that are objectively designed and intended for use by individuals with disabilities, allowing for the continued use of braces that aid in shooting stability.
Whether the new rules will remain in place remains to be determined by the outcome of the ongoing legal battles. Even if Amazon succeeds in removing stabilizing braces from its site, the items will continue to be widely available online and in the physical world, as they remain legal to buy, sell, and own until installed on short-barreled rifles.
Private companies like Amazon are ultimately free to make decisions about what products they buy and sell, despite pressure from advocates urging for stricter regulation of online gun sales. However, the prevalence of disguised listings for stabilizing braces raises concerns about the potential for online retailers to facilitate the sale of items that may be used for illegal purposes.
As the legal landscape surrounding stabilizing braces continues to evolve, Amazon and other online marketplaces will face ongoing challenges in identifying and removing prohibited products while balancing the rights of legitimate gun owners and the safety of the public.
