Category: ATF

When you’re trying to decide whether you should get a federal firearms license (FFL), one of the things you may wonder about is how long it’s going to take the ATF to approve your FFL application, and give you a federal firearms license. This is a fair concern, especially when dealing with the ATF. After […]

How long do FFLs need to keep their records? As an attorney specializing in ATF compliance for FFLs, this is a fairly common question I receive. Unfortunately, the simplest answer I have is a common answer from attorneys: “It depends.”  The duration for each ATF record that you need to keep as a Federal Firearms […]

FFL eZ Check system provided by the ATF that helps individuals and other FFLs confirm the validity of a Federal Firearm License (FFL). The eZ Check system is a great tool for what it is designed for: to make sure that an FFL is legitimate. In this article, we’re going to cover everything you need […]

Under federal law, “Prohibited persons” may not possess firearms or ammunition. It is also unlawful to knowingly give a prohibited person firearms or ammunition. Those restrictions may seem straight-forward, but there are unique definitions and exceptions that apply to both – for example, what exactly makes a person “prohibited” and what technically counts as firearms […]

So, you’re either thinking about getting your FFL, or you already have an FFL license and are curious about Responsible Persons (RPs). We get it – there’s a lot of confusion about Responsible Persons on FFLs. We hear questions about RPs like: We’ll cover these questions in this Responsible Person Guide. Of course, the basics […]

There’s a special ATF Form before you can transport NFA Firearms across state lines – it’s the ATF Form 5320.20 form (also called the “Form 20”) In this ATF 5320.20 form guide, we’re going to cover: Restrictions on Interstate NFA Firearm Transportation Before we cover the rules for traveling with NFA Firearms across state lines, […]

Welcome to the mother-load of ATF-related data on firearms in commerce! Each year the ATF publishes a report that includes data on the number of firearms in commerce (made, exported, and imported) and statistics on NFA firearms (forms, revenue, and distribution) and FFLs (applications and inspections. In the ATF’s Firearms Commerce in the United States […]

When this article was first written in 2017, the Minnesota Handgun Carry Permit had just been approved by the ATF as an alternative to the normally required FBI NICS background check prior to the transfer of a firearm from an FFL to a customer. As of then, Minnesota Handgun Carry Permits with expiration dates of […]

There has been a lot of discussion about “80% Frames” or “80% receivers” lately. We get many questions about them, such as: Are “80% frames” legal? What are “80% receivers”? Is an “80% frame” legally a firearm? Can I convert an “80% receiver” into a firearm? We aim to answer all of these questions here […]

Summary: AR15 Drop In Auto Sears (DIAS) manufactured after October 31st, 1981 are considered machine guns and are therefore regulated under the National Firearms Act of 1934. IMPORTANT: Despite this ruling, possession of ANY Drop In Auto Sear along with an AR-15 with some M16 parts, constitutes a machinegun. The Firearm Owner’s Protection Act of […]

As I mentioned in our article on reduced NFA wait times, NFATracker is an awesome resource for our community. These guys collect and display various ATF paperwork approval and NFA transfer information. I’m including some information from their website here, but you really should go check them out on your own. While you’re there, you […]

Today, the ATF released an overview of the inspection process for FFLs who are also Department of Defense Contractors. You can view/download the ATF Inspection Process for DOD Contractors, or read it in full below. NOTE: This process is similar, but different from, the normal ATF inspection process for FFLs who are not also DOD […]