A group of 24 Republicans in Congress have introduced a measure that would scrap the confusing "Any Other Weapon" category from National Firearms Act regulations. 

The bill, the "No Backdoor Gun Control Act," was introduced on Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, a Texas Republican, and co-sponsored by 23 other members of the GOP. The lawmakers say the reform is needed to ensure federal gun regulators couldn't use the AOW section to violate Second Amendment rights – and would be especially important if other bills delete short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns from the NFA.

"Bearing arms in self-defense is a human right. It is evident from the ATF’s behavior that, under Joe Biden’s Department of Justice, the agency is hellbent on attacking the Second Amendment through every means at its disposal," said Roy in a statement. 

The AOW definition has been used by regulators to categorize a wide range of items running the gamut from wallet holsters and vintage guns such as the Ithaca Auto-Burglar to pen guns and even pistols with a second grip, as requiring extra levels of control. AOWs have a mandatory tax of $200 for making, and, while they only have a $5 transfer, still must undergo a lengthy and time-consuming NFA process that can take up to a year. 

The proposal would drop the AOW definition of a firearm under the NFA and requires the Justice Department to destroy registration records for those who have such items. 

Backed by several pro-2A organizations, the bill could also shortcut potential wholesale gun control measures.

"The federal government has no business taxing and registering privately owned firearms with a catch-all term like 'Any Other Weapon' or AOW," said Aidan Johnston, director of federal affairs, Gun Owners of America. "With the Biden Administration weaponizing definitions from the draconian National Firearms Act of 1934 to ban as many as 40,000,000 lawfully acquired guns like AR-15s, Rep. Chip Roy’s repeal of federal AOW regulations could not come at a better time. 

The No Backdoor Gun Control Act is listed as H.R.6817 and has been referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means and the Judiciary. 

While the likelihood of passage in the Democrat-controlled body is slim, and signature by President Biden remote, political pundits are forecasting a potential polarity shift on Capitol Hill in November, one that could see a reintroduced AOW ban pushed through even without Biden's signature.