Firearms Industry Newsletter

In an effort to keep Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL) abreast of changing firearms laws and regulations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will provide semi-annual FFL Newsletters. In furtherance of our goal to provide you with up-to-date information, ATF will publish the newsletters in February and August of each year and distribute them to each FFL.

ATF has been participating at the annual SHOT Show for over 25 years.  Our informational booth and subject matter experts serve industry members attending SHOT in several different ways. We conduct informational seminars on several topics, provide timely information on regulatory matters, and distribute ATF publications and forms to thousands of Federal firearms licensees who attend the event. The ATF booth is one of the busiest and most frequently visited by attendees.

Based upon feedback from the industry and ATP personnel, ATF is enhancing the Federal firearms license (FPL). The enhancements will give the license a new updated look, including larger print for ease ofreadability. A wallet-sized information card with your license number will also be provided.

What's In This Issue: An Open Letter to Licensees and Others Concerned; President Signs New Gun Law; News You Can Use; Tracing Makes a Difference

 ATF determines semiautomatic assault rifles cannot be imported into the United States.

What's In This Issue: Announcement - ATF stands up the National Firearms Act (NFA) Division; Firearm Thefts & Burglaries; Burglary and Robbery Statistics; ATF Ruling 2016-1: Electronic A&D Records; ATF Ruling 2016-2; ATF Ruling 2016-3; ATF Ruling 2016-5; Revised ATF Form 4473 (Firearms Transaction Record); Rental of Firearms On-Premises; Rental of Firearms Off-Premises; FFLs are Responsible for Retrieving Status when Using E-Check; Tips from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Section; Gun Shows

In an effort to keep Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) abreast of changing firearms laws and regulations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will provide semiannual FFL Newsletters. Previous editions of the FFL Newsletters are available on ATF’s Web site (http://www.atf.gov).

What's in this issue: What is a Straw Purchase; Silencer Markings and Registration Requirements; Changes to ATF Form 4473; State of Residence and Identification; NICS Alternative Permits and Age Restrictions;  Medical Marijuana and CBD Products; Private Party Sales; Internet Sales; Firearm Raffles; Firearm Registry; Variance Requests and the Approval Process; Special Occupational Tax Requirement – Business Locations; Reminders – Renewals / RPs / FFLC Address / AFMER ; and NFA Forms Processing Times

The revised version of ATF Form 4473 became effective on October 17, 2005. All previous versions of this form are now obsolete. The new forms, now printed in white, can be obtained by contacting the Distribution Center at (703) 4557801. When requesting these forms, please specify ATF Form 4473 (5300.9) Part I Revised July 2005.

What’s in This Issue: SHOT Show 2013; ATF Outreach Activities; Best Practices; FBI/NICS News

What’s In This Issue: Reminder: Keep Your Contact Information Up to Date; Reminder: eForm 6; Agency Information Collection Activities; Rental of Firearms On-Premises; Rental of Firearms Off-Premises; Clarification of ATF Ruling 2008–3: Making Corrections to the e4473; Recording Identification Documents on the ATF Form 4473—Military Identification and PCS Orders; Purchase of Firearms by Current or Former Law Enforcement Officers; Recording Pistol Grip Firearms in the Acquisition and Disposition Record; Manufacturing NFA Firearms for the United States Government; When Permission Is Required To Move NFA Firearms; Recordkeeping Requirements and Retention Requirements for Licensed Manufacturers; Clarification: Firearms Shipments via Common or Contract Carrier; Brokering of Firearms/Drop Shipments

What's In This Issue: Transfers to Aliens in a Nonimmigrant Status; New Address for Out of Business Records Center; Computerized Acquisition and Disposition Records; Auctioning Firearms; Corporate Mergers Significantly Impact Status of Federal Licenses; Transfers of National Firearms Act Firearms in Decedent's Estates; Importation of Certain Frames, Receivers and Barrels; Questions to the Editor; FBI/NICS News

What’s in This Issue: Customer Service Standards; SHOT Show 2012; Multiple Trade Name Policy; Hunting Licenses Issued by Retailers; Binary Exploding Targets; Completion of Section A of ATF Form 4473; Out-of-State Driver’s License Used as an Identification Document; REAL ID Act of 2005; Recording Firearms in the Acquisition and Disposition Record; Guide to Requesting Marking Variances; Firearms Commerce in the United States 2011; Looking for Past Newsletters?; FBI NICS Information

A nonimmigrant alien generally may not purchase ammunition from a Federal firearms licensee (FFL) or a nonlicensee to possess in the United States. This prohibition applies unless they establish that they meet one of the exceptions. The exception that would apply to most nonimmigrant aliens would be if they were admitted to the United States for lawful hunting or sporting purposes and/or are in possession of a valid hunting license or permit lawfully issued in the United States.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are committed to protecting our nation from individuals who seek to acquire firearms for use in criminal activity, including violence towards innocent people. To be successful, we need the assistance of the firearms industry.

What’s in This Issue:  Customer Service Standards; Reminder: Top 10 Frequently Asked Firearms Questions and Answers; Receive Firearms Industry News; Electronic Devices Used to Verify Change of Address; Government Issued Documents Bearing an Incorrect Zip Code; PCS Orders and Military Dependents Purchasing Firearms; Licensed Manufacturer’s Registration; Requirement with the Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Control (DDTC); Firearms Lost or Stolen from Interstate Shipments; Guidance to FFLs Affected by Flooding and Other Natural Disasters; Ethnicity and Race on the ATF Form 4473; Firearms Shipments via Common or Contract Carrier; Out-of-Business Procedures; Out-of-Business with Succession; Residence as a Licensed Business Premises; New Move in EPS; Who to Contact with your Firearms Related Questions; FBI NICS news

What's In This Issue: Streamlined Application Process; New Publications; New Faces; Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act Temporary Regulations; Firearms Theft; Restraining Orders; Law Enforcement Sales; Before You Move; Final Brady Regulations; Multiple Sales Reports; No Import Permits to ARMSCOR; Licensing Telephone; Change in Excise Tax Deposits; Going Out of Business; Restoration of Federal Firearms Privileges; The Net; Industry Meetings; Shot Show

What's In This Issue: National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act; NICS Enrollment by Licencees; ATF Form 4473 Completion and NICS Checks; Sales to Law Enforcement Officers; Required Identification Document; ATF Form 4473 Completion Errors and NICS; NICS and the 3-Day Wait; NICS and Potential "Straw Transactions"; NICS and the Collectors of Curio and Relic Firearms; Licensee Fines, Suspension, and/or Revocation for NICS Violations; Special Notices

ATF has been participating at the annual SHOT Show for over 25 years.  Our informational booth and subject matter experts serve industry members attending SHOT in several different ways. We conduct informational seminars on several topics, provide timely information on regulatory matters, and distribute ATF publications and forms to thousands of Federal firearms licensees who attend the event. The ATF booth is one of the busiest and most frequently visited by attendees.

What’s in This Issue: Customer Service Standards; Active Federal Firearms License (FFL) Records; Best Practices; ATF Outreach Activities; New Moves in EPS; FBI/NICS News