Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is at it again—this time targeting a long-accepted gunsmithing practice they previously approved: the pin and weld.
Thanks to a FOIA request by Gun Owners of America (GOA), we now know that a rogue ATF agent is pushing a bizarre reinterpretation of what constitutes “permanent” barrel attachment.
And if this view spreads within the agency, millions of law-abiding gun owners could find themselves in legal jeopardy.
ATF Says “Approved” — Then Tries to Ban It
The pin and weld method is used by gunsmiths across the country to comply with the National Firearms Act (NFA). By permanently attaching a muzzle device to a barrel under 16 inches, gun owners can legally bring the barrel up to required length—no tax stamp needed. It’s not a loophole. It’s ATF-approved, backed by a 2006 letter affirming the practice.
But now, the ATF’s Firearms Technology Industry Services Branch (FTISB) is attempting to flip the script.
In a case involving Amchar Wholesale’s imported Beretta handgun, ATF acknowledged the company used a standard blind pin and weld. But after clamping the pistol in a bench vise and aggressively wrenching on it, agents managed to unscrew the barrel extension—then declared the attachment “not permanent.”
Let that sink in: ATF broke the gun using brute force, then used that as evidence it wasn’t compliant.
Who’s Behind It? A Familiar Name
The letter was signed by none other than Eve E. Eisenbice, a name that should send chills down every gun owner’s spine.
Eisenbice is the same ATF agent who:
- Claimed a water bottle might be a firearm.
- Classified a cheek rest as a stock, causing a gun owner to be charged under the NFA.
- Testified in court that pillows and potatoes can be suppressors.
And now she’s targeting one of the most common compliance methods used by gunsmiths nationwide.
GOA Raises the Alarm
GOA’s Ben from the Minuteman Moment called it what it is: “a rogue attempt to rewrite ATF policy with zero legal basis.” He added, “Any grown man or woman cranking on a pin and weld in a vice can break it. That doesn’t make it illegal.”
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So what happens next? Will ATF start subjecting everyone’s rifles to a “vice torture test”?
Could your legally compliant rifle suddenly be deemed an NFA item because of a single bureaucrat’s whim?
What Gun Owners Should Know
Pin and weld is not a loophole. It’s lawful, approved, and widely used. If the ATF changes its stance through the back door—without rulemaking or legal authority—it sets a terrifying precedent.
Fortunately, the tide may be turning. GOA notes that the Trump administration replaced ATF chief counsel Pamela Hicks and fired Marvin Richardson, the architect of the pistol brace ban.
A more pro-2A administration could finally gut the anti-gun rot inside the ATF—starting with bureaucrats like Eisenbice.
Until then, gun owners must stay vigilant. GOA promises to keep fighting—and you can bet this won’t be the last time the ATF tries to regulate through sabotage.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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i think with regards to permits and different states something needs to be done as far as laws go. states and the federal government should not vary like they do When a state or federal government does not enforce laws the government or state is a coconspirator by aiding the criminals. from, weed to illegal immigration to animal cruelty. and firearms things need to make sense. People are tempted to break other laws when things they know are illegal are not enforced
changing rules should never happen at this level as only elected officials are authorized to make laws. what is a rule that’s enforced by law enforcement. Classification is something that happens when a law is written and should not be allowed unless by a new law. I feel the same way about felons not being allowed to own firearms. this should only apply to felonies on the books in 1968 for those were the felonies being used for classification. You cant make cigarettes illegal without defining what a cigarette is . Once defined it is over until. a new law with new definition is passed. So, mud puddles don’t become wetlands and parakeets are not bald eagles. These definitions can only be given by elected officials while writing law. anything with a barrel under 16 inches is a handgun and since the sbr law was written to discourage gangsters from buying tommy guns and a 200 tax which was a lot of money back then and now with inflation it’s a non-issue and the law itself should be thrown out. Gangsters are not buying tommy guns so no more need. The state of Michigan still has adultery as being illegal, yet no one is ever prosecuted all these old outdated laws need to be taken off the books .dog license were started to curb the size of wild dog packs killing livestock since we reintroduced coyotes and wolves i think its safe to say dog license should be done away with it should not matter how much revenue they bring in its not being used to curb wild dog populations
Perhaps Eve Eisenbice should join Pamela Hicks and Marvin Richardson in retirement? Or perhaps the ATF should be fed to the DOGE? Either outcome would be acceptable.
YIKES – this article demonstrates the biggest problem with the bats – they can (and do) change the rules (NOT established law) whenever and however they want to and usually just based on the ‘interpretation’ du jour, or simply on a whim. How is anyone supposed to know what to do when they keep changing things. Hmm, it almost seems like they are intentionally trying to confuse people.
Just an FYI, it’s Eve Eiseinbise not Eiseinbice, just so everyone who the constitution hating leftist is who should be drummed out of law enforcement of any kind for the willful violation of the oath she took. Perhaps our new ATF director needs to put his big boy pants on and get to firing her.
Having managed to crank the muzzle attachment off, the agent should have to fire the weapon to prove it’s still functional. I want to see that video!
I voted for Trump all 3 times and hoping this time he will DOGE and close the ATF all together. Don’t forget our belt loops are machine guns and Idaho spuds are suppressors yall.
Just wait until Ms. Eve E. Eisenbice
finds out that a hacksaw or angle grinder
can lop off the end of a barrel
and make it into a short barreled rifle.
Oh my goodness.
Don’t give her ideas.
The NY State Police did the same thing some years back to prosecute LEGAL gun stores ! They purchased NY Compliant weapons, and wrenched the pinned muzzle device off, then prosecuted the shop owner for selling non compliant “assault weapons” ! They also worked at removing a pin from a pinned stock from another shop, and also charged that owner with selling non compliant weapons ! Eventually, all charges were dismissed …
Further proof the ROT is still there. This is a golden opportunity for Trump to show how much he supports the 2A and send this bureaucrat packing. Personally, I think she should be charged for her actions…..
Eisenbice : Testified in court that pillows and potatoes can be suppressors. …. WELL , we better ban them!! , if not , we must admit that ANYTHING can suppress, so why make hi tech manufactured suppressors so hard to get ?
Maybe she was trying to lay the groundwork to shut down My Pillow!
this is something that is going to continue with more and more gun violence being shown on the news these are the outcomes The only way is for the present administration to overhaul the ATF and its powers we need to have the Goverment stop the redirect and stop the states from making their own laws just to fuel away to charge fees for permits if you have been screened by the ATF and found ok then why is the goverment not doing anything with regard to making a permit good for all the states not just some it is time that this is corrected
Everything is not permanent if you apply enough force.
Including someone’s position in politics or certain agencies!
Please spell “vise “correctly
I’m so tired of that agency rewriting laws. Their job is to enforce current laws. If they have a problem with new guns that are being produced or new attachments ,,that needs to be sent through Congress. They don’t have the authority to rewrite, or write Laws that can cause people, fines and prison time. most of what they do is unconstitutional, and they use Nazi officers with badges and guns to enforce it in the dark of night.
The ATF needs to be abolished and all of its members hung for treason against the constitution and the people of the United States
I voted for Donald Trump hoping that he would either get rid of or completely strip down the ATF, especially of these criminal agents who think they are the gods of gun control, who, if the founders were still alive, would have them hanging from the highest tree for treason and sedition against the Constitution particularly the Second Amendment!
The NFA, and all weapons (arms) restrictions of any kind imposed on law abiding citizens are Unconstitutional, and it is about time the Supreme Court declared them as such and stop this garbage!
We all want to see that happen, but the truth is, Trump is fighting against constitutional enemies installed by Clinton,. Obama, and Obama’s hand puppet (Biden). Heck, I guarantee there are people in the FBI blatantly disobeying orders to release evidence on Epstein, and the media will gleefully tell us, “see, Trump isn’t living up to his promises!”
I AM 74 YRS. OLD & HAVE A BILATERAL VISION ISSUE RELATED TO MULTIPLE “MINISTROKES” AND IS NON-REPAIRABLE. PLEASE INCREASE THE FONT SIZE OF THE SMALL LETTERS & MAKE THEM A BOLD COLOR SO AS TO BE SEEN EASIER. THE FONT SIZE & PALE GRAY COLOR ARE VIRTUALLY INVISIBLE TO MY EYES——THANK YOU, SEMPER-FI, & OORAH !!!!!!
I am also 74 years old and I appreciate your service and your condition, but we should stop the world and change the world because of one person?
This is one of the things that is wrong with this world now! Everybody thinks they have a right to their own personification what should go on and happen to their benefit, but that’s not the way the world works!
Sorry, figure out how to change the text and enlarge the text on your own screen along with all those other things you seem to require, don’t put it on the content creator to satisfy your particular needs!!
Mike:
Try holding down the CTRL key on your keyboard and scrolling the mouse wheel. You can make the font any size you want.
If you don’t have a mouse scroll wheel, you can increase the font size by holding down CTRL and pressing the + key
GL!
Wrenching, actually breaking and damaging that barrel is an idiotic means of “proving” a point. The agent should pay to replace that barrel!
Stay safe. j
I found this on the feministacarpetmunching hag :
https://www.facebook.com/NHRetirementSystem/posts/i-work-for-atf-now-in-the-firearms-ammunition-technology-division-in-my-free-tim/2456424424410455/
For a long time just a blind pin was accepted, as the pins were hardened, so you couldn’t drill them out. Most tossed in a tack weld anyway. I have a three foot pipe wrench, that if I put a six foot breaker bar on, probably would remove most of them. However, it would absolutely destroy everything. They miss the intent of the law, which is to screw one on making it legal, but then later you can easily unscrew it. Easily. By hand or with a small common hand tool (water pump pliers, etc). . They always go over the top to get results. Kind of a mental thing, power trip, always have to be right, etc.
BET she gets fired by Trump and possibly charged with a crime for her trying to create laws when that’s not her job. Lol
Fire that dumbass !
Eve E. Eisenbice, another leftist anti-constitution bureaucrat who has no respect for the 2nd Amendment!!!! These types of charlatans need to be rooted out of any government job!!!!
Agents like this need to be removed and stopped from coming up with these bogus ideas. Hell you can put any rifle in a vise and cut the barrel down is that the manufacturers fault ? No it is the individuals fault!
Agents like this need to be removed and stopped from coming up with these bogus ideas. Hell you can put any rifle in a vice and cut the barrel down is that the manufacturers fault ? No it is the individuals fault!
So, a 20 inch barrel could be cut down to 15 inches thus making all 20 inch barrels illegal? Right
What? A MAGA ran ATF is still infringing? It’s almost as if trusting them to be pro 2A (after he banned bump stocks in his first term) was short sighted…
Why isn’t this idiot working mall security already?? I thought these morons were being fired in droves? Apparently not!! “Paula Blart” here needs to start her new security job at the mall by Monday morning…and her friends too. And on another note, SBR’s and suppressors still sitting in committee not moving forward. I knew those pussies were gonna do this. Just lip service to get the votes and the big pro gun organizations to say “just chip in 20 more bucks and we’ll make this happen”. ALL BULLSHIT AS USUAL. 🙁
fire those asses and start abiding by 2a period