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FederalFirearmsRegulations__________________________________________

OptionstoReduceorModifyFirearmsRegulations

WhitePaper(Notforpublicdistribution)

RonaldTurkAssociateDeputyDirector(ChiefOperatingOfficer)

BureauofAlcohol,Tobacco,FirearmsandExplosives(ATF)

20Jan2017

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"AwellregulatedMilitia,beingnecessarytothesecurityofafreeState,therightofthepeopletokeepandbearArms,shallnotbeinfringed."

SecondAmendmenttotheUnited

StatesConstitution

ExecutiveSummary:ATFistheonlyFederallawenforcementagencywithaprimarymissionthatdirectlyinvolvesan

AmendmenttotheUnitedStatesConstitution.Thus,ouractionsandpoliciesareappropriately

subjectedtointensereviewandscrutiny.ThispaperservestoprovidethenewAdministration

andtheBureaumultipleoptionstoconsideranddiscussregardingfirearmsregulationsspecific

toATF.Thesegeneralthoughtsprovidepotentialwaystoreduceormodifyregulations,or

suggestchangesthatpromotecommerceanddefendtheSecondAmendmentwithout

significantnegativeimpactonATF’smissiontofightviolentfirearmscrimeandregulatethe

firearmsindustry.Thiswhitepaperisintendedtoprovideideasandprovokeconversation;itis

notguidanceorpolicyofanykind.

ATF’senforcementandregulatoryeffortsarefocusedonreducingviolenceandincreasing

publicsafety.Positivestepstofurtherreducegunviolencethroughenforcementorregulation

areextremelyimportantbutarenotthefocusofthispaper.

PointsforDiscussion:

1. NewFederalFirearmsLicensees(FFL)DealingExclusivelyatGunShows(orinternet):Forovertwoyearsrepresentativeswithinthefirearmslicensingcommunityhaveasked

forclarificationand/oradecisionfromATFregardingnewFFLapplicantsrequestingto

conductbusinesssolelyatgunshows.ATFhasdelayedadecisionorguidancedueto

severalconcernsincludingwhatitmeanstobe“engagedinthebusiness”ofselling

firearms,andATF’sabilitytohaveaccesstoadealer’srecordswheretheymaynothave

routinebusinesshours.ATFhasalreadyrecognizedFFLactivitiesviatheinternet

withoutaclassic“storefront”andisconsideringwhethertoincludegunshowonly

activitiesinasimilarmanner.Themarketplacehaschangedsignificantlyinrecentyears,

andATF’sguidancetoFFLsontheseissueshasnotkeptpacewithdevelopmentsin

commerce.Classic“brickandmortar”storefrontswithanon-handinventoryandset

“front-door”businesshoursoftennolongerapplyintoday’smodernmarketplace.A

questionremainsastowhetherATFshouldconsidersimplychangingpastpolicyor

initiatealengthyregulationrulechangeprocess.Thereisampleroomforimmediate

actiononthisissue.ATFcansimplyissuenewguidanceimmediatelyandadjustpast

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policytoallowforabusinesstoobtainalicensewiththeprimaryintentionofselling

firearmswiththetransferoccurringatalocationotherthanthebusiness’sphysical

premises(whetheratgunsshows,overtheinternet,orelsewhere).Thispracticehasin

factalreadybeentakingplace,andATFhasprovidedguidancetoFFLsallowingsuch

activitywithregardstointernetonlysales.Providedthebusinessisestablishedata

locationinfullcompliancewithstateandlocallaws/ordinancesandthebusinessis

reasonablyinspectablebyATFatanestablishedbusinesslocation,limitedornoactual

salesoutthebusiness’sfrontdoorshouldnotbeanissue.Ifaformalregulationrulechangeisneededforlong-termclarification,ATFcanstart

thatprocesswhileimmediatelyissuingapolicychangetotheabovepracticewhich

wouldhavenonegativeimpacttopublicsafety.Infact,itwouldencouragemoresales

andbusinessthroughalicensee,includingbackgroundchecksonsalesatgunshow

events,andlikelyincreasepublicsafety.Severalnationalgunshowpromoterspreferto

havelicenseesattheirshows,whichalsosomewhatreducestheso-called“gunshow

loophole”concernssomehaveexpressedaboutsuchvenues.ATFrecentlyissuedguidanceregardingwhatitmeanstobe“engagedinthebusiness”

andindicatedthat:

“Apersoncanbeengagedinthebusinessofdealinginfirearmsregardlessofthelocationinwhichfirearmtransactionsareconducted.Forexample,apersoncanbeengagedinthebusinessofdealinginfirearmsevenifthepersononlyconductsfirearmtransactionsatgunshowsorthroughtheinternet.”

Thus,byestablishingthatpersonscanberequiredtoobtainalicensetosellonlyatgun

shows,ATFmustprovidereasonablemeansforbusinessestoobtainalicense.ATFcan

provideguidancetothepublicforgunshow-onlydealerssimilarthatwhichwasposted

forinternet-onlyfirearmsdealers.Thereisnoapparentdownsidetosuchaproposal,

andinfactpublicsafetyisenhanced.

2. ArmorPiercingAmmunition:ATFhasregulatoryauthoritytoclassifywhatisandisnotarmorpiercing(AP)ammunition.Severalmajorammunitionmanufacturingcompanies

havehadrequestspendingforyearstoproduceAPammunition(APammoorammo)

whichisnotintendedforuseinahandgunandpotentiallylawfulunderFederallaw.In

2014,ATFproposedaframeworkthatwouldhaveprovidedatransparentandfair

reviewprocessfortheseapplications,andwouldhaveresultedintheapprovalofmany

ofthelong-pendingrequests.Theframework,however,alsowouldhavewithdrawnthe

5.56“greentip”APammoexemptionthathasexistedsince1986.Thewithdrawalof

theexemptioncreatedcontroversythatultimatelystalledallAPammoclassification

decisions.Sincethattime,ATFhasbeenaskedtoholdoffonanyAPammo

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determinations.Continuedinactionontheserequestsposessignificantlitigationand

reputationalriskstoATF.ATFcanreadilymitigatetheserisksbyusingthecriteria

establishedintheframeworktoprocessandapprovemanyoftheapplications,while

leavingthe5.56“greentip”APammunitionexemptionintact.Movingforwardwith

approvaloftheseapplicationsisconsistentwiththestatutorygoalofprotectingthe

publicandlawenforcementbecause,consistentwiththestatutoryexemption,the

projectilesinvolvedarenotassociatedwithcriminaluse,butinsteadareclearly

designedandintendedforhuntingandsportingpurposes(theprojectiles/calibersat

issuewillgenerallypenetratebodyarmorregardlessofwhetherAP-classifiedmetalsare

usedinthemanufacturingprocess).Ifdecisionalrestrictionswereremoved,ATFcould

readilyapplydraftedstandardsforreviewingAPammorequestswhileleavingthe5.56

“greentip”APammoexemptionintact.Manyoftheindustries’pendingrequestscould

bedecidedinatimelymanner,meetingbothstatutoryrequirementsandsafety

concernswithinthelaw.

3. Re-importationofCertainDepartmentofDefenseSurplusFirearmsfromForeignCountries:TheStateDepartmentandATFhaveworkedoverthepastseveralyearswith

theAdministrationonrequestsfortheimportationofU.S.originmilitaryfirearms,

ammunition,andpartsthatwereoncesentoverseastosupportallies.Thereare

surplusrifles,pistols,ammunition,andotherimportableU.S.originCurioandRelic

(C&R)defensearticles(includingM1GarandandCarbinerifles)andpistols(M1911)

overseasawaitingimportationauthority.Thereisnoclearpublicsafetyreasonwhy

taxpayer-fundedUS-originC&Rdefensearticlesshouldbedeniedre-importationtothe

Americanpublic,whilemanynon-U.S.-originC&Ritemsareapproved.Additionally,

theseitemsdonotrepresentanydiscernablepublicsafetyconcern,asdemandlieswith

collectorsofvintagemilitaryfirearms.Importationandsalethroughlicenseddealers

wouldeffectivelyregulatethelawfultransferofthesefirearmsthroughalicenseeanda

backgroundcheck.JointeffortfromtheAdministration,StateDepartment,andATF

couldeasilyreversepastdecisionsandallowforthesafeandlegalimportationandsale

ofthesehistoricalandcollectibleitems.ManyM1Garandrifleshavebeenapprovedfor

importationinthepast,settingprecedenceforthistooccur.Themorerecentdenials

wereinpartduetoperceivedpotentialthattheymaybeusedincrimes,forwhichthere

islittle,ifany,evidenceforsuchaconcern.

4. Title18,UnitedStatesCode(U.S.C.),Section922(o):CurrentlawprecludesFFLswhoareregisteredSpecialOccupationalTaxpayers(FFL/SOT)fromtransferringmachineguns

manufacturedpost-1986unlesstheyareforexportorforlawenforcement/government

use;andthereisnoprovisionforthetransferfromoneFFL/SOTtoanother.Thisis

somewhatdetrimentaltoFFL/SOTsoperatingwithinthesmall,butuseful,Department

ofDefense-supportedindustryandtheatricalarmorercommunity.Oneoption,if

supportedbytheDepartmentofJustice(DOJ),wouldbetore-instituteATF’sabilityto

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providevariancestolicensees,asATFhasdoneinthepast,thatwouldadequately

provideformtransferswithindefenseindustryFFLsandavoidarequirementtochange

thestatute.UseofvariancesinaconsistentandfairprocesswithinthelimitedDoD-

supportedFFL/SOTcommunitywouldbeviewedfavorablybytheindustryandhaveno

impactonpublicsafety.

5. FirearmArmorStabilizingBrace:Manufacturershaveproducedanarmbraceor

stabilizingbracewhichisdesignedtostrapahandguntoaforearmtoallowadisabled

shootertofirethefirearm.ATFdeterminedthatthebracewasnotastock,and

thereforeitsattachmenttoahandgundidnotconstitutethemakingofashort-barreled

rifleor“anyotherfirearm”undertheNationalFirearmsAct(NFA).(NFAclassification

subjectstheproducttoataxandregistrationrequirement.)Inthedeterminationletter,

however,ATFindicatedthatifthebracewasheldtotheshoulderandusedasastock,

suchusewouldconstitutea“redesign”thatwouldresultinclassificationofthe

brace/handguncombinationasanNFAfirearm(i.e.,the“use”wouldbea“redesign”

andmakingofashort-barreledrifle).ATFhasnotmadeanotherNFAdetermination

whereashooter’susealonewasdeemedbea“redesign”oftheproduct/firearm

resultinginanNFAclassification.Thisrulinghascausedconfusionandconcernamong

firearmmanufacturers,dealers,andconsumersabouttheextenttowhichunintended

useofaproductmaybeabasisforNFAclassification.Tomitigatethisconfusionand

concern,ATFcouldamendthedeterminationlettertoremovethelanguageindicating

thatsimpleuseofaproductforapurposeotherthanintendedbythemanufacturer–

withoutadditionalprooforredesign–mayresultinre-classificationasanNFAweapon.

WhilemanyatATFareconcernedaboutmanufacturingprocessescontinuingtopush

theboundariesbetweenaGunControlAct(GCA)andanNFAfirearm,ATFhasa

relativelyconsistenthistoryofwhatcrossesthelinebetweenGCAandNFAfirearms

withwhichtodrawfrom,andstillmaintainstheabilitytoexercisegoodjudgementwith

futurerequestsbaseduponthefirearm’sindividualcharacteristics.

6. ReissueaNewSportingPurposeStudy:SincethesunsetoftheAssaultWeaponsbanin

2004,theuseofAR-15s,AK-style,andsimilarriflesnowcommonlyreferredtoas

“modernsportingrifles”hasincreasedexponentiallyinsportshooting.Thesefirearm

typesarenowstandardforhuntingactivities.ATFcouldre-examineitsalmost20-year-

oldstudytobringituptodatewiththesportshootinglandscapeoftoday,whichis

vastlydifferentthanwhatitwasyearsago.Actionshootingsportsandorganizations

suchas3GunandtheUnitedStatesPracticalShootingAssociation(USPSA)havealso

drasticallyexpandedinrecentyears.Restrictiononimportsservesquestionablepublic

safetyinterests,astheseriflesarealreadygenerallylegallyavailableformanufacture

andownershipintheUnitedStates.Lowcostforeignmadefirearmsarealsostill

importedandconvertedinto“non-sporting”configurations.Theserestrictionshave

placedmanylimitationsonimporters,whileatthesametimeimposingaheavy

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workloadonATF’sFirearmsandAmmunitionTechnologyDivision.ATF’sImportsBranch

alsopossessesalistoffirearmsapprovedforimportbuthasnotmadethislistpublic.

Listssuchasthiscanbemadeavailabletothepublicsothattheimportingcommunity

doesnothavetoguessastowhatthestandardforimportationis.Manyconcernsfrom

thefirearmsindustrycouldbere-examinedthroughthepublicationofanewSporting

PurposeStudyalongwithanupdatedImportsBranchGuide.

7. CreationofaDatabaseofAgencyRulings:ATFlacksaconsistentinternaldatabasetomaintainandreadilyaccessprivatelettersandruling.Thepublicalsohasnodirect

accesstopublicrulingsinamanageableformat.Theinabilitytoaccesstheserulingscan

createinconsistentagencyinterpretationsofagencyguidance.ATFcancreatea

retrievabledatabaseforinternalusethatincludesaccessbythepublicforopenrulings.

8. Silencers:CurrentFederallawrequiresATFtoregulatesilencersundertheNFA.This

requiresaFederaltaxpaymentof$200fortransfers,ATFapproval,andentryofthe

silencerintoanationalNFAdatabase.Inthepastseveralyears,opinionsaboutsilencers

havechangedacrosstheUnitedStates.Theirusetoreducenoiseatshootingranges

andapplicationswithinthesportingandhuntingindustryarenowwellrecognized.At

present,42statesgenerallyallowsilencerstobeusedforsportingpurposes.Thewide

acceptanceofsilencersandcorrespondingchangesinstatelawshavecreated

substantialdemandacrossthecountry.ThissurgeindemandhascausedATFtohavea

significantbacklogonsilencerapplications.ATF’sprocessingtimeisnowapproximately

8months.ATFhasdevotedsubstantialresourcesinattemptstoreduceprocessing

times,spendingover$1millionannuallyinovertimeandtemporarydutyexpenses,and

dedicatingover33additionalfull-timeandcontractpositionssince2011tosupportNFA

processing.Despitetheseefforts,NFAprocessingtimesarewidelyviewedbyapplicants

andtheindustryasfartoolong,resultinginnumerouscomplaintstoCongress.Since

silencersaccountforthevastmajorityofNFAapplications,themostdirectwayto

reduceprocessingtimesistoreducethenumberofsilencerapplications.Inlightofthe

expandingdemandandacceptanceofsilencers,however,thatvolumeisunlikelyto

diminishunlesstheyareremovedfromtheNFA.WhileDOJandATFhavehistorically

notsupportedremovalofitemsfromtheNFA,thechangeinpublicacceptanceof

silencersarguablyindicatesthatthereasonfortheirinclusionintheNFAisarchaicand

historicalreluctancetoremovingthemfromtheNFAshouldbereevaluated.ATF’s

experiencewiththecriminaluseofsilencersalsosupportsreassessingtheirinclusionin

theNFA.Onaverageinthepast10years,ATFhasonlyrecommended44defendantsa

yearforprosecutiononsilencer-relatedviolations;ofthose,onlyapproximately6ofthe

defendantshadpriorfelonyconvictions.Moreover,consistentwiththislownumberof

prosecutionreferrals,silencersareveryrarelyusedincriminalshootings.Giventhelack

ofcriminalityassociatedwithsilencers,itisreasonabletoconcludethattheyshouldnot

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beviewedasathreattopublicsafetynecessitatingNFAclassification,andshouldbe

consideredforreclassificationundertheGCA.

Ifsuchachangeweretobeconsidered,arevisioninthedefinitionofasilencerwould

beimportant.Thecurrentdefinitionofasilencerextendsto“anycombinationof

[silencer]parts,”aswellas“anypartintendedonlyforusein”asilencer.Comparedto

thedefinitionofafirearm,whichspecifiestheframeorreceiveristhekeyregulated

part,anyindividualsilencerpartisgenerallyregulatedjustasifitwereacompleted

silencer.Revisingthedefinitioncouldeliminatemanyofthecurrentissuesencountered

bysilencermanufacturersandtheirpartssuppliers.Specifically,clarifyingwhenapart

orcombinationofpartsmeetsaminimumthresholdrequiringserializationwouldbe

useful.

9. FirearmsIndustryProposalstoAllowforInterstateSaleofFirearmsatGunShows:18U.S.C.923(j)andsupportingregulationsprohibitFFLsfromconductingfirearmssales

outsidethestateinwhichtheyarelicensedandreside.ManyFFLswouldliketobeable

totraveltootherstatestovenueslikeagunshowandconductbusiness.ATFcurrently

allowsanFFLtotraveltoanotherstate,displayfirearmsforsaleandtakeorders,but

nottotransferfirearmson-site(thismusttakeplacebackattheFFL’sbusinesslocation

intheirhomestate,andonlytoaresidentoftheirhomestate).Similarly,FFLscan

transferfirearmsoutofstatetoanotherlicenseeunderan“advanceconsignment”

beforethegunshowtotheout-of-statelicenseeinasomewhatconvolutedprocess

wherethetraveling/transferringFFLisnolongermakingthesale.ATFandDOJhave

historicallyopposedremovalofthestatutoryrestrictionondirectinterstatefirearm

salesbyFFLs.Furtherdiscussionwouldbebeneficial.AchangethatcouldallowFFLsto

operateatout-of-stategunshows(wherealsoallowedbyindividualstatelaws)would

havenodetrimentaleffectonpublicsafetyandstillprovideATFameanstotrace

firearms.Itwouldalsobeviewedfavorablybythebroaderfirearmscommunity.Since

anFFLhasalicense,maintainsrecords,andconductsbackgroundchecksforsales,

providedtheyareincompliancewithStateandlocallaws,thereisnoapparentharmor

risktopublicsafetyinallowingthemtodoso,butnotforthecurrentstatuteand

interpretationrequiringin-stateonlysales.Saleswouldbedocumentedandtraceable,

andabackgroundcheckwouldbecompleted.

10. DestructiveDevices:ThecurrentdefinitionsfordestructivedevicesunderboththeNFA(26U.S.C.,5845(f))andtheGCA(18U.S.C.,921(a)(4)),andapplicablecontrols,donot

differentiatebetweendestructivedevicelaunchersanddestructivedevicemunitions.

ApplicableregulatoryandstatutorycontrolsundertheGCAandNFAarefocusedon

multi-useobjects,suchastypicallonggunsormachineguns,notsingle-use,expendable

munitionswhicharealsosubjecttotheSafeExplosivesAct.Thecustomerbasefor

destructivedevicemunitionsisverylimited—theU.S.DoD,foreigngovernmentsas

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approvedbytheDirectorateofDefenseTradeControls(DDTC)undercurrentexport

policy,andsmallnumbersofotherdestructivedevicelauncherand/ormunitions

manufacturersforuseinresearch,testing,orassistanceinUnitedStatesGovernment

/foreigncontractfulfillment.Inaddition,thecostofmunitionsproductionruns,safety,

andcontractfulfillmentrequirementssuchasapplicableDoDmarkingrequirements

necessitate,ataminimum,differentstandardsformarkingmunitionsthanarepossible

forlaunchers.Thisincludesmarkingbylotnumbersandhavingmultipledispositions

againstasinglelotnumber.Thereareseveraldifferentwaystoreviseapplicable

controlstohelpsolvetheseissues,asbeingcurrentlydiscussedbyATFanddestructive

devicemunitionsindustrymembers.ATFshouldcontinuetodiscusstheseissueswith

leadershipandtheindustrytoexplorechangesthatwouldbeusefultothedefense

munitionsindustryandhavediscernableimpactonpublicsafetyorATF’sabilityto

regulatethem.

11. DemandLetter2(DL2):AnATFregulationcurrentlyprovidesthatallFFLsthathavehad10ormoregunswithatime-to-crimeof3yearsorlesstracedtotheminthe

previousyearmustprovideATFwithcopiesoflimitedinformationfromusedfirearms

theyacquiredinthatpreviousyear.Thisequatestolimited“used”or“graymarket”gun

information(nopurchaserinformationisdirectlystoredbyATF,onlyguninformation)

thatcanbeusedtoexpandthesuccessrateoftracesforsecondarymarketfirearms.

Thisinformationcanbeusefultofurthercrimeguntracecapabilitiesbycreatinga

pointertoallowforamorecurrentfirearmstracetoasecondarypurchaser.ATF

originallysetthethresholdforDL2reportingat25firearms,butlaterreducedthat

numberto10firearms.ATFiscurrentlyre-examiningtheprogramandanticipatesa

changetothenumber(somewhereinthevicinityof15ormore)basedontrendand

dataanalysis.SomehavearguedthatDL2createsaburdenonfirearmsdealersto

provideATFinformationonusedfirearmsthatmaybecome,butarenotnecessarily,

crimeguns.Anincreaseinthefirearmsrequirementabove10wouldlikelyhavea

positiveimpactonthefirearmsindustryandstillmeetprogramobjectives.ATFshould

continuetoexaminedatatodeterminewheretheappropriatenumberoffirearmslies

tobestmanagethisprogram.

12. DemandLetter3(DL3):ViaregulationATFcurrentlyrequiresFFLsinseveralsouthwestborderstatestorecordandsubmitmultiplesalesrecordsforcertainsemi-automatic

riflescapableofshootingwithadetachedmagazine(althoughnotdefinedassuchby

laworregulation,thisappliestothesaleofmorethanoneriflecommonlyreferredtoas

“modernsportingrifles,”soldtothesamepersonatthesametime).Thisrequirement

cameintoeffectseveralyearsagoinanattempttocurbtheflowofriflesfrom

commercetothecriminalelementviaillegalfirearmstraffickingintoMexicoandSouth

America.Thereareexampleswherethisregulationhasproveneffectiveandmay

provideadeterrenteffect.Overthepast5years,ATFhasover40,000multiplesales

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reportsinvolvingover90,000rifles;openedover300investigations,andrecommended

approximately374defendantsforprosecution.DL3placessomeburdenonthe

firearmsindustryviareportingrequirements.TheeliminationofDL3couldhavea

detrimentaleffectonATF’scriminalenforcementmissionbasedonthenumbersof

investigationsanddefendantsseentodate,butcanbefurtherdiscussedregarding

utilityandimpact.

13. PendingATFRegulationRegardingFFLRecordsRetention(20years):ATFhasaregulationpendingatDOJtoincreasetherequirementsforFFLstoretainrecords

indefinitely.Thecurrentstandardis20years,andrecordsolderthan20yearscanbe

destroyed.Theintentofthechangefrom20yearstoindefiniteretentionistoprovide

accesstorecordsforfirearmstracesoverlongerperiodsoftime.However,manyargue

thatcrimegunsarenotfrequentlyrecoveredwithtimestocrimesfrompurchasesover

20yearsold.Also,olderfirearmspossessedbycriminalsfrequentlytransferhands

severaltimesandatracewilloftennotleadtothecriminalaftersomuchtimehas

passed.ATFhasaveragedapproximately1,200failedtracesayearoverthepast5years

duetorecordsdestruction,accountingforlessthanonehalfofonepercentoftraces

conductednationallyeachyear.Whilesuchanextensionisarguablyaviablelaw

enforcementintelligencetool,muchofthefirearmsindustryisopposedtosucha

changeandacloserreviewofthisproposalcouldbebeneficial.

14. ExpandingPermissiveUseofNICSChecksbyFFLHolders:Standardpre-employment

backgroundchecksfrequentlydonotrevealthatapersonisfirearms-disabled.Other

thanrequiringpotentialnew-hirestopurchaseafirearm,licensees,inparticularlarge

retailers,arefrequentlyunabletodeterminethatanemployeecannotbeinvolvedin

firearmsoperations.RetailerswouldappreciatetheabilitytorunaNICScheckon

currentemployeesorpotentialnewhirestoascertainwhethertheycanlegallyfulfill

theirjobrequirements.Akeyaspectofthisproposalisthatitwouldbeentirely

elective;iftheFederalBureauofInvestigation(FBI),ATFandothersallconcurredwith

thisslightexpansionoftheuseofNICS,therewouldbenomandatethatlicensees

performaNICScheckonallemployees.Keepingtheexpansionofthesystemlimitedto

electiveemployeecheckswillpreventanysignificantincreaseincosttotheFBIorATF

(intermsofrunningbackgroundchecksorexpandingregulatoryenforcement),whileit

willenableFFLstoincreasetheircompliancewithexistingregulationsandhelpensure

firearms-disabledpersonneldonothaveeasyaccesstofirearms.Businessescouldalso

berequiredtocertifythatpermissiveNICScheckswereonlyusedonimpacted

employeesorfacesanctionsformisuseofthesystem.

15. NeedforanATFConfirmedDirector:SincemovingfromtheDepartmentofTreasuryto

theDOJin2003,ATFhashadonlyoneSenate-confirmedDirector.Theagencyneedsa

presidentiallynominated,Senate-confirmedDirectorwhohasthesupportandbacking

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oftheAdministrationtoleadATF.Thiswillenabletheagencytobefullyinsyncwith

leadership,andmaximizetheagency’spotentialregardingpriorities,budgets,and

support.

16. OldRegulationsUnderReviewforPossibleRemovalorAmendment:Belowisalistofthefirearmsandexplosivesregulationsthatarecurrentlyunderreview.Theyarelikely

nolongerapplicable(orportionsofwhicharenolongerapplicable),andmaybe

removedaspartofafinalruletoremoveexpiredregulations.1

a. 478.40–AssaultWeaponsban

b. 478.40a–prohibitionlanguageforassaultweapons

c. 478.57(b)and(c)–assaultweaponsandlargecapacitymagazines

d. 478.92(portions)–APammoandlargecapacitymagazines

e. 478.116(portions)–importinglargecapacitymagazines

f. 478.119–importinglargecapacitymagazinesandfeedingdevices(belts,

drums,strips…)

g. 478.132–recordskeepingforlargecapacityfeedingdevicessoldtolaw

enforcement

h. 478.153–requestforlargecapacitymagazinesandfeedingdevicesfor

manufacturertesting

i. 478.171(portions)–exportingAPammoandsemiautoassaultweapons

j. 479.32(a)and(c)–reducedimporter/manufacturertaxrate1988;shorttaxableyear

standards

k. 555.11(portions)–obsoletedates;commerceinexplosives

l. 555.27(portions)-obsoletedates;explosivesbackgroundchecks

m. 555.33(portions)-obsoletedates;licenseesandpermitteesgeneralexplosives

n. 555.41(portions)-obsoletedates;licensesandpermitsgeneralexplosives

o. 555.45(portions)-obsoletedates;licensesandpermitsgeneralexplosives

p. 555.49(portions)-obsoletedates;issuanceoflicensesandpermits

q. 555.51(portions)-obsoletedates;durationoflicensesandpermits

r. 555.57(portions)-obsoletedates;changeofcontrol,RP’sandemployees

s. 555.102(portions)-obsoletedates;authorizedoperationsbypermittees

t. 555.103(portions)-obsoletedates;transactionsbetweenlicenseesandpermittees

u. 555.105(portions)-obsoletedates;distributiontononlicenseesandnon

permittees

v. 555.125(portions)-obsoletedates;recordsmaintainedbypermittees

w. 555.126(portions)-obsoletedates;transactionrecordsx. 555.142(portions)-obsoletedates;relieffromdisabilities

y. 555.201(portions)-obsoletedates;storage

z. 555.224(portions)-obsoletedates;tableofdistances

1ThislistwasproducedbyATF’sEnforcementProgramsandServicesDirectorate

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Conclusions:TherearemanyregulatorychangesormodificationsthatcanbemadebyorthroughATFthat

wouldhaveanimmediate,positiveimpactoncommerceandindustrywithoutsignificantly

hinderingATFsmissionoradverselyaffectingpublicsafety.Therearealsoareaswhere

adjustmentstopolicyorprocessescouldimproveATFoperations.Alleviatingsomeofthese

concernswouldcontinuetosupportATF’srelationshipsacrossthefirearmsandsporting

industry,andallowATFtofurtherfocuspreciouspersonnelandresourcesonthemissionto

combatgunviolence.

Inadditiontothesepointsofdiscussion,itisvitalforATFtofindresourcestorefreshaging

technologyandsystemsthatsupportlawenforcementandthefirearmsindustry.Functionality

atATF’sMartinsburgfacilityandotherareashasbeenseverelyhamperedbyoutdated

technologyandsystemsthatnegativelyimpactATF’sabilitytoprovideservicesand

information.

Note: TheopinionsexpressedwithinthiswhitepaperarenotthoseoftheATF;theyaremerelytheideas

andopinionsofthiswriter.TheyareprovidedforinternalusewithinATFandDOJandnotintendedtobe

public.Theyarealsogeneralthoughtsthatcannotbetakenasexactinglanguageregardingpolicyorquotablespecifics.Additionalspecificdetailscanbeprovidedtofurtherthesegeneraldiscussions.

ThemenandwomenofATFareoverwhelminglyafantasticgroupofhardworkingcivilservantswholooktoreduceviolentcrimeandensurepublicsafety.Thefocusoncombatinggunviolenceiskey.Fairlyregulating

thefirearmsandexplosivesindustriesisalsoimportant.Asthefirearmsconversationstakeplaceoverthenextfewmonthsandyears,thispaperisofferedtoprovideinformalinsightonpotentialproductivewaysto

limitregulationandcontinuetoprotectourSecondAmendmentfreedoms,whilefocusingonATF’smissionto

protectournation.

XRonald Turk