Category: ATF

Q: What is a Straw Purchase? A: A straw purchase occurs when one person buys a gun for someone else who is either prohibited by law from possessing a gun or who does not want his or her name associated with the transaction. A straw purchase is a felony with a punishment of 10 years […]

With the recent horrible shooting event in Las Vegas, Nevada, where 59 people were murdered and hundreds more were injured, the question about whether the shooter actually used a full-automatic machine gun has been popular. I may have inadvertently started this debate. When I first learned of the attack this morning, I saw a video […]

“Prohibited persons” may not possess firearms or ammunition. It is also unlawful to knowingly give a prohibited person firearms or ammunition. Those restrictions seem straight-forward, but there are unique definitions and exceptions that apply. These details should be understood so that you know exactly who is a prohibited person and precisely what they are prohibited […]

Recently the ATF published Procedure 2017-1 (not ATF Ruling 2017-1). ATF Procedure 2017-1 “set[s] forth the record-keeping and National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) procedures for a Federal firearms licensee (FFL) who facilitates the transfer of firearms between private unlicensed individuals.” In this article, we’re going to cover: Basic Background and Requirements for Private […]

Welcome to the mother-load of ATF-related data on FFL Applications and Inspections statistics! 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 […]

Welcome to the mother-load of ATF-related data on NFA firearms! 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 Annual […]

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 […]

The ATF just released their July 2017 newsletter. These ATF newsletters are periodically released to help update the firearms industry on internal ATF news, as well as clarify and/or explain recent ATF rulings. This newsletter covered: Announcement – ATF stands up the National Firearms Act (NFA) Division Firearm Thefts & Burglaries Burglary and Robbery Statistics […]

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 […]

The ATF revised the Form 4473 most recently in October 2016, and the new 4473 was required to be used starting on January 16, 2017. 4473 Paper Copies Unfortunately, the ATF shut off their eForm 4473 software because they didn’t update it in time for the new requirement – this meant that FFLs were required […]

ATF’s Theft/Loss Report The ATF just released their report of FFL firearm thefts and losses from 2016. The ATF report shows that Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) reported the following in 2016: Total firearms lost/stolen: 18,394 Total firearms stolen: 9,281 Total firearms lost: 9,113 Compared to the ATF’s 2015 Theft/Loss report, that’s a 124% increase in […]

Options to Reduce or Modify Firearms Regulations White Paper (Not for public distribution) Ronald TurkAssociate Deputy Director (Chief Operating Officer) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) 20 Jan 2017 “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall […]