ATF is announcing the withdrawal of a notice and request for comments entitled “Objective Factors for Classifying Weapons with ‘Stabilizing Braces’,” that was published on December 18, 2020.

The Department of Justice (Department) intends to amend the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to replace the regulations’ reference to an outdated guidance document. Based upon a  petition ATF received, the Department wishes to gather information and comments from the public and industry about possible replacements for this guidance document.

A South Dakota Regular Concealed Carry Permit, issued on or after July 1, 2018, can be used as an alternative to the required NICS background check.

This final rule makes technical amendments and corrects typographical errors in ATF regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Many of the technical changes are being made to reflect changes in nomenclature resulting   from the transfer of ATF to the Department of Justice from the Department of the Treasury pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. The changes are designed to provide clarity and enhance uniformity throughout these regulations.

The passage of Texas House Bill 957 (HB957), with an effective date of September 1, 2021, has generated questions from industry members as to how this state law may affect them while engaged in a firearms business activity. HB957 claims to exempt silencers (also known as suppressors) that are manufactured in Texas, and which remain in Texas, from Federal firearms laws and regulations, including the federal registration requirements. However, because HB957 directly conflicts with federal firearms laws and regulations, federal law supersedes HB957. In summary, all provisions of the Gun Control Act (GCA) and the National Firearms Act (NFA), including their corresponding regulations, continue to apply to FFLs and other persons in Texas.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), with the concurrence of the Office of Government Ethics, is amending its Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Department of Justice Supplemental Standards) to incorporate existing rules for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) employees that had initially been adopted by the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms was within Treasury.

This final rule conforms the regulations in 27 CFR Part 447 to the revised International Traffic in Arms Regulations by amending the list of countries from which the importation of defense articles into the United States is proscribed by adding Afghanistan and removing South Africa and some of the states composing the former Soviet Union (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan). The rule also removes the arms embargo against the countries of Serbia and Montenegro. It also clarifies an outdated reference in the regulations to Zaire, currently known as the "Democratic Republic of the Congo," and makes a miscellaneous technical amendment to the regulations.