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September 18th, 2023

ATF Issues Updated Form 4473 — Firearms Transaction Record

2023 ATF Form 4473 update revised firearms transaction record

Due to statutory requirements set forth in both the NICS Denial Notification Act and the Bipartisan Safer Community Act (BSCA), the ATF Form 4473 was revised in December of 2022. Incorporating industry member suggestions made during the recent 60 and 30-day Notice and Comment periods, ATF has further revised the form and now that newest version (August 2023) has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget for implementation. The new form becomes mandatory on 2/1/2024, but the ATF recommends using the updated Forum 4473 now.

The ATF encourages all federal firearms licensees (FFLs) to begin using the Revised Form immediately. The Revised Form is available on the ATF website, and can be downloaded and printed for immediate use. Note that the entire Form, including instructions, must be printed, and stored together. Hard copies of the Revised Form will be available through the ATF Distribution Center beginning November 1, 2023. The ATF eForm 4473 application is also being revised and notification will be sent when it is ready for use.

A detailed breakdown of all form changes is provided on the ATF’s website. SEE: ATF Form 4473 & Firearms Transaction Record Revision.

The Revised Form will become mandatory for use on February 1, 2024. Please contact your local ATF Industry Operations office should you have any questions regarding the changes to the form.

» Review the Changes to ATF Form 4473

» Download the Revised Form 4473

2023 ATF Form 4473 update revised firearms transaction record

CLICK above photo to download full 7-page Form 4473 as PDF file.

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July 11th, 2023

Gun Sellers Harmed by Biden Administration and ATF Actions

joe biden BATFE ATF gun dealer FFL closure harassment executive order

“Since the beginning of the Biden administration, the number of Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) has gone down by [over] 1,600.” — America’s 1st Freedom

The Biden Administration, acting through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is aggressively working to shut down gun stores and FFL businesses throughout the country. According to the NRA America’s 1st Freedom site, some 1619 FFLs have gone out of business since 2020 when Joe Biden took office. That is a major change, reflecting extremely hostile and aggressive policies now being pushed by the anti-gun Biden administration.

“The Biden administration said that they would use the ATF as a bludgeon against the industry, and that’s in fact what they are trying to do. They are turning the agency that is charged with regulating the firearm industry — the manufacturers, the distributors, the retailers — and using the levers of that regulatory agency as a means to shut down and deny people their Second Amendment rights.” – Mark Oliva, NSSF Director for Public Affairs

biden BATFE ATF gun dealer FFLWe recommend our readers consult a recent, detailed article on Americas1stFreedom.org that explains the ATF’s aggressive campaigns against gun dealers and small-business FFLs. That article explains how the aggressive Biden policies have resulted in a huge number of gun shops and FFLs shutting down: “What’s the result of Biden’s constant drumbeat of propaganda and executive actions against America’s firearms retailers? According to ATF figures, as of April 2023, there were 1,619 fewer licensed firearms dealers than there were when Biden took office in January 2021.”

Additionally, ATF records indicate licensee revocations jumped sharply after Biden’s directives to the ATF: “In January 2022, out of 470 FLL audits performed, there were only three license revocations. A year later, there were 678 (44% more) inspections and 17 revocations — six times the number of revocations from the previous January.”

“What [Biden’s] latest Executive Order actually did was direct various federal agencies to make life as difficult as possible for firearms dealers, as Biden knows that making it more difficult for retailers to sell guns makes it more difficult for law-abiding Americans … to buy them.” — America’s 1st Freedom

ATF Biden Democrats FFL closures license revocations

Along with the aggressive actions of the ATF, President Biden wants to ban certain types of firearms through Executive Order. This is rule by fiat, without Legislative approval, which is not what the Constitution intended. Laws are to be made by Congress, not by a dictator.

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March 12th, 2023

Don’t Get Barrel-Busted! Federal Barrel Length Requirements

short barrel barreled rifle shotgun NSA tax stamp ATF legal brief guncollective.com

The Legal Brief is a feature of TheGuncollective.com that focuses on firearms rules and regulations. In this Legal Brief video, Attorney Adam Kraut explains key State and Federal regulations governing firearms, and explains how to ensure compliance with all applicable laws.

This five-minute video explains barrel length rules for rifles and shotguns, and also explains the best (and most fool-proof) methods to measure your barrel. In addition, the video explains how to measure firearm overall length. A rifle or shotgun which is less than 26 inches overall can also be classified as a “Short-barreled” rifle/shotgun subject to the NFA. NOTE: Under federal law “If the rifle or shotgun has a collapsible stock, the overall length is measured with the stock EXTENDED”.

Highlights of LEGAL BRIEF Discussion of Barrel Length and Firearm Overall Length

The ATF procedure to measure the length of a barrel is to measure from the closed bolt or breech face to the furthest end of the barrel or permanently attached muzzle device. ATF considers a muzzle device that has been permanently attached to be part of the barrel and therefore counts towards the length.

How to Measure Barrel Length: Drop [a] dowel or rod into the barrel until it touches the bolt or breech face, which has to be closed. Mark the outside of the rod at the end of the muzzle crown (if you don’t have a permanently attached muzzle device) or at the end of the muzzle device if it is permanently attached. Remove the rod and measure from the mark to the end of the rod. That is your barrel length[.]

Remember, if the barrel length is less than 16 inches, it is possible that the firearm could be a short barrel rifle (if you are building a rifle or it is already on a rifle) and if the barrel length is less than 18 inches, it is possible the firearm could be a short barrel shotgun (again if you are building a shotgun or it is already a shotgun). Both of these firearms would be subject to the purview of the National Firearms Act and would require the firearm to be registered accordingly.

How to Measure Overall Length:The overall length of your rifle or shotgun may also classify it as a Short Barrel Rifle or Short Barrel Shotgun. The overall length of a firearm is the distance between the muzzle of the barrel and the rearmost portion of the weapon measured on a line parallel to the axis of the bore. … If the rifle has a permanently attached muzzle device, that is part of the overall length. … If the rifle or shotgun has a collapsible stock, the overall length is measured with the stock extended.

READ FULL ARTICLE on Ammoland.com.

Links for this episode:

ATF Method for Measuring Barrel Length and Overall Length:
ATF: CHAPTER 2. WHAT ARE “FIREARMS” UNDER THE NFA?
Firearm – 26 USC § 5845: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/5845
Firearm – 27 CFR § 479.11: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/27/479.11
Short Barrel Rifle – 18 USC § 921(a)(8): https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/921
Short Barrel Rifle – 27 CFR § 478.11: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/27/478.11
Short Barrel Shotgun – 18 USC § 921(a)(6): https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/921
Short Barrel Shotgun – 27 CFR § 478.11: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/27/478.11

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January 26th, 2023

2nd Amendment Rights — Montana Attorney General Interview

montana attorney general larry keane Shot shot tv second amendment gun rights

In this video, Larry Keane, NSSF Sr. VP and General Counsel, talks with Montana State Attorney General Austin Knudsen. The two men met in the SHOT Show TV Studio to discuss Second Amendment issues, and the firearm industry. Keane noted that Atty. Gen. Knudsen is a recognized leader — among all state elected officials — in protecting the Second Amendment. Knudsen “leads the charge among all Republican AGs” on gun rights issues. Knudsen has filed legal actions to safeguard Second Amendment rights, and he recently spear-headed an investigation of UPS and FedEx Sharing of Gun Owner Info with Federal Agencies.

Montana Attorney General Knudsen Leads 18-State Effort Calling On UPS And FedEx To Clarify Gun-Purchase Tracking Polices
Seventeen state Attorneys General joined Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen today in asking major shipping companies to clarify new policies that allow them to track firearm sales with unprecedented specificity and bypass warrant requirements to share that information with federal agencies.

Reports from Montana federal firearm license (FFL) holders made to Attorney General Knudsen’s office indicate that UPS and FedEx are now burdening them by requiring them to ship separately and track firearms, firearms parts, and firearm products so gun purchases can be tracked.

Knudsen and the coalition of attorneys general sent letters on November 29, 2022 to leadership at both companies requesting additional information on their new policies and the possibility that the effort was coordinated in part with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

“These demands, in tandem, allow [UPS/FedEx] to create a database of American gun purchasers and determine exactly what items they purchased… In doing so you, perhaps inadvertently, give federal agencies a workaround to normal warrant requirements. This allows [UPS/FedEx] to provide information at will or upon request to federal agencies—information detailing which Americans are buying what guns,” Attorney General Knudsen’s letters state.”

In addition to requesting updated FFL-related shipping policies from the two companies, Attorney General Knudsen asked them to clarify the following:

Did UPS/FedEx enact these policies with the goal of information sharing with the ATF or any other federal agency;

Did UPS/FedEx enact these policies at the request of officials in ATF, a different federal agency, or on its own initiative;

If UPS/FedEx implemented these policies at the request of a federal agency, please identify that agency, the officials who made that request, the nature of that communication, and any legal authorization cited by those officials;

If UPS/FedEx changed its policies on its own initiative, please explain why it made those changes;

Did UPS/FedEx communicate or coordinate with each other in making these changes;

Did ATF or other federal agency employees help draft the updated shipping agreements?

montana attorney general UPS FedEx firearms shipping tracking ATF investigation

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January 25th, 2023

Suppressors More Popular — Probably 3,600,000+ in USA Now

BATFE ATF suppressor silencer form 4 application tax stamp 3600000 2023 dean weingarten ammoland

Based on discussions with ATF representatives at SHOT Show 2023, it appears there are now over 3,600,000 registered suppressors (silencers), in the USA. Gun Journalist Dean Weingarten reports: “The total number of silencer tax stamps in existence in the USA as of 2019 was 2,042,719. The total number of silencer tax stamps existent in the USA as of 2020 was 2,664,774. The increase was 622,055 from 2019 to 2020. The number of legal silencers in the United States has not been updated since 2020. It is now 2023. When this correspondent asked representatives at the briefing if the numbers presented represented about a one million increase in legal silencers from 2020 to the end of 2022, they stated the number was reasonably correct.” That would mean the number of legal silencers/suppressors in the United States now exceeds 3.6 million in year 2023.

Procedure for Obtaining a Suppressor
Suppressors are now legal in 42 U.S. States. There are certain legal requirements for obtaining a suppressor, including paying a $200 Tax Stamp. To own a suppressor you must be legally eligible to purchase a firearm, pass a BATFE background check, pay a one time $200 Transfer Tax, and satisfy age requirements. (SEE ALL Requirements). In most (but not all) of those states you can use a suppressor for hunting. The eight (mostly blue) states which still prohibit civilian suppressor ownership are: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. READ FULL ARTICLE on GunsAmerica Digest.

Expect Delays on Form 4 Request for Suppressor Permits
An ATF presentation at SHOT Show showed how many NFA applications were processed in the last three fiscal years up to September 30, 2022. The vast majority of these applications were for suppressors, using ATF Form 4.

BATFE ATF suppressor silencer form 4 application tax stamp 3600000 2023 dean weingarten ammoland

This huge increase in NFA Form 4 applications for suppressors means that suppressor applicants can expect very significant delays in processing. An ATF slide show indicated that the ATF’s Form 4 processing now takes an average of 270 days for the eForm, and a full 315 days for paper forms. That’s over 10 months!

Dean Weingarten observed: “The presentation made a good case the NFA division of the ATF is overwhelmed with NFA applications, leading to significant wait times to process those applications. The NFA division is experiencing considerable stress in processing NFA forms expeditiously, especially Form 4s. The ATF does not receive the $200 tax for NFA applications. The money goes directly to the general fund. Therefore, the NFA cannot hire more people to process more forms.”

Read story by Dean Weingarten on Ammoland.com. Read more by Dean Weingarten on his GunWatch website. ©2023 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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December 1st, 2022

Montana AG Leads Effort to Investigate UPS and FedEx Sharing of Gun Owner Information with Federal Agencies

montana attorney general UPS FedEx firearms shipping tracking ATF investigation
Image from WikiHow Firearms Shipping Article, Creative Commons License.

Montana Attorney General Knudsen Leads 18-State Effort Calling On UPS And FedEx To Clarify Gun-Purchase Tracking Polices
Seventeen state Attorneys General joined Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen today in asking major shipping companies to clarify new policies that allow them to track firearm sales with unprecedented specificity and bypass warrant requirements to share that information with federal agencies.

Reports from Montana federal firearm license (FFL) holders made to Attorney General Knudsen’s office indicate that UPS and FedEx are now burdening them by requiring them to ship separately and track firearms, firearms parts, and firearm products so gun purchases can be tracked and retain documents about what specific items those shipments contain and make that information available to the companies upon request.

Knudsen and the coalition of attorneys general sent letters on November 29, 2022 to leadership at both companies requesting additional information on their new policies and the possibility that the effort was coordinated in part with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

“These demands, in tandem, allow [UPS/FedEx] to create a database of American gun purchasers and determine exactly what items they purchased… In doing so you, perhaps inadvertently, give federal agencies a workaround to normal warrant requirements. This allows [UPS/FedEx] to provide information at will or upon request to federal agencies—information detailing which Americans are buying what guns,” Attorney General Knudsen’s letters state. “Additionally, we recommend that you consider taking actions to limit potential liability moving forward, including the immediate cessation of any existing warrantless information sharing with federal agencies about gun shipments.”

In addition to requesting updated FFL-related shipping policies from the two companies, Attorney General Knudsen asked them to clarify the following:

Did UPS/FedEx enact these policies with the goal of information sharing with the ATF or any other federal agency;

Did UPS/FedEx enact these policies at the request of officials in ATF, a different federal agency, or on its own initiative;

If UPS/FedEx implemented these policies at the request of a federal agency, please identify that agency, the officials who made that request, the nature of that communication, and any legal authorization cited by those officials;

If UPS/FedEx changed its policies on its own initiative, please explain why it made those changes;

Did UPS/FedEx communicate or coordinate with each other in making these changes;

Did ATF or other federal agency employees help draft the updated shipping agreements?

montana attorney general UPS FedEx firearms shipping tracking ATF investigation

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen led the effort. In addition, Attorneys General from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming signed one or both letters.

CLICK HERE to read the letters delivered today.

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June 18th, 2022

Potential Action to Restrict Commercial Sales of Lake City Ammo

Winchester ammunition lake city missouri

Story based on report from NRA Institute for Legislative Action:

Last week, it was reported that the Biden administration seeks to limit the sales of Lake City-produced ammunition. Specifically, Biden’s team intends to prohibit commercial (public) sales of 5.56x45mm NATO ammo produced at the Lake City Ammunition Plant in Missouri. The move could result in a reduction of the commercial production of 5.56×45 (.223 Rem) caliber ammunition by over 30 percent (30%).

The sales restriction would dramatically reduce availability of ammunition for America’s most popular centerfire rifle caliber, and the ammo most commonly used in AR-15 platform rifles. This could result in a significantly increased cost for all centerfire .223 Rem and 5.56×45 ammunition, because overall supply would be drastically reduced.

Lake City-produced ammo, which exceeds the U.S. government’s requirements, has long been made available to the private commercial market. Lake City’s output, according to some estimates, accounts for one-third of the 5.56×45 ammunition available to U.S. consumers.

News of the move was broken by Larry Keane, NSSF Senior V.P. and General Counsel. This past week, Keane published a tweet, which stated: “The U.S. Military is actively considering shutting down the sale [of] M855/SS109 ammo from Lake City to the commercial market”.

Winchester ammunition lake city missouri Biden ban ammo

Lake City Ammunition Plant Produces over 1 Billion Rounds Annually
Lake City is a sprawling ammunition plant in Independence, Missouri, originally established by Remington in 1941 to manufacture and test ammunition for the U.S. Army. It is currently owned by the government and operated by private contractors and produces well over a billion rounds of ammunition per year.

Commentary about the Potential Ammunition Sales Restrictions:
The Truth about Guns Blog commented: “The motivation here is obvious. The Biden administration is attempting to further spike the price of ammunition, squeezing the owners of America’s favorite rifles — the scary black ones that the president assures us are only good for killing people and taking down Kevlar vest-wearing deer. The hapless Biden administration [is] trying to make shooting most AR-15 rifles as expensive as possible for Americans who own between 20 and 25 million AR-platform guns.

The NRA-ILA states: “Gun prohibition advocates have a long-standing desire to ban the AR-15 and other types of semiautomatic long guns outright. Joe Biden in particular loves to brag of authoring the so-called ‘assault weapons’ ban that Bill Clinton signed into law in 1994. Congress, however, allowed the ban to expire 10 years later, after a Department of Justice-sponsored study was unable to substantiate any significant crime reduction benefit from it.

Close followers of Second Amendment issues will remember that these same [5.56×45] rounds were targeted by the Obama/Biden administration under the guise of relabeling them ‘armor piercing ammunition’, which is banned from commercial sale by federal law. The resulting … furor from the Second Amendment community was so intense that it culminated in Obama’s ATF director, B. Todd Jones, quitting his job.”

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April 15th, 2022

Biden Nominates Radical Anti-Gunner for ATF Director Job

Steven Dettelbach nomination BATFE ATF director corrupt biden anti-gun candidate

On April 11, the Biden Administration nominated Steven Dettelbach as the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), subject to Senate confirmation. With Dettelbach’s nomination, President Biden revealed his intent to put an aggressive gun control advocate in charge of the agency responsible for regulating America’s firearms industry.

David Chipman, Biden’s first ATF Director nominee, failed to achieve enough support in the Senate to be confirmed. After Chipman’s shortcomings were exposed in Senate hearings, the Biden Administration withdrew Chipman’s nomination. Chipman had worked for anti-gun lobbying groups and advocated widespread banning of popular current firearms types and even supported confiscation of modern sporting rifles. When it was clear Chipman would not win Senate confirmation, Biden withdrew the nomination.

Now Biden has nominated a second ATF Director candidate who is equally objectionable.

Steven Dettelbach nomination BATFE ATF director corrupt biden anti-gun candidate

NRA-ILA Says Dettlebach Supports Radical Restrictions on Gun Rights
The NRA-ILA states: “Like Chipman, Dettelbach is a dedicated gun controller with a background that proves he would be neither fair nor objective as head of ATF. When running for Ohio Attorney General in 2018, Dettelbach endorsed gun bans, restrictions on lawful firearm transfers, and further expansion of prohibitions on who can lawfully possess a firearm. In short, it’s unclear what gun control measures Dettelbach doesn’t support.

This led NRA-PVF to award Dettelbach an ‘F’ for his positions on the right to keep and bear arms. Notably, Michael Bloomberg’s … gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety (David Chipman’s former employer) endorsed Dettelbach in his bid to become Ohio’s Attorney General.

Ohio voters wisely rejected Dettelbach and his gun control promises in 2018. But, Dettelbach’s unpopular views on the Second Amendment put him in line with the most anti-gun presidential administration in American history.

It will once again be up to gun owners to make clear that a failed anti-gun politician has no more place at the head of the ATF than a failed anti-gun lobbyist. Please contact your U.S. Senators… and respectfully encourage them to oppose Dettelbach’s nomination.”

Dettlebach Supports Ban on Modern Sporting Rifles
The National Shooting Sports Foundation added: “NSSF is committed to a thorough examination of Dettelbach’s record and qualifications. Dettelbach has previously stated support for bans on Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs), or AR-15 semiautomatic rifles, universal background checks, which are unworkable without a national firearm registry that is already forbidden by federal law, and extreme-risk protection orders, or so-called ‘red flag’ laws, without protections for Due Process considerations.

Dettelbach … a recent partisan candidate for public office, supported gun control during his campaign [and was] endorsed by the gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety, for his support for policies restricting Second Amendment rights.”

COMMENTARY: Dettlebach is a Staunch Enemy of the Second Amendment
We concur that Dettlebach is not a candidate who respects the Second Amendment. If appointed to head the ATF, Dettlebach can be expected to push for policies that will negatively affect the rights of all American gun owners. Dettlebach will likely seek to impose a de facto national gun registry (a digital database of gun owners), make background checks more difficult, and put more restrictions on semi-auto pistols and rifles.

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April 13th, 2022

ATF Announces New Biden Orders Banning 80% Receivers

Biden ATF ghost guns 80% receivers Second Amendment

Through Executive action, without new Federal legislation, the Biden Administration, acting through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is moving to ban the direct sale of unfinished firearm frames and receivers which could be built into functional guns with some additional work and components. (Top photo from GunsAmerica Digest.)

This week, the Biden administration announced the final ruling for ATF 2021R-05, “Definition of ‘Frame or Receiver’ and Identification of Firearms”. Among its provisions, the ruling will effectively eliminate the distribution of “80% Kits” and require FFLs and gunsmiths to serialize such kits upon acquisition. The rule will go into effect 120 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

“This ruling will have significant regulatory and operational impacts on FFLs, gun owners and the entire firearms industry,” said Phil Milks, Orchid LLC VP and FFL Law Lead Attorney. “It’s imperative firearm manufacturers and retailers review the ruling in detail and evaluate their manufacturing, serialization and recordkeeping processes to ensure compliance when the new regulations go into effect. We urge FFLs to contact Orchid to learn more about this ruling and how it may affect their firearms business.”

New ATF Ruling Covered at Upcoming 2022 Firearm Industry Conference
The ATF’s new policies on unfinished receivers will be the focus of a seminar at the 2022 Firearms Industry Conference (FIC), April 26-27 in Atlanta, Georgia. At the FIC seminar/discussion, ATF executives will review the new ruling and take questions. Agency personnel will also be available during scheduled breakout sessions and private FFL/ATF meetings. The seminar/discussion will be hosted by Orchid LLC and the Williams Mullen Firearms Industry Group.

Biden ATF ghost guns 80% receivers Second Amendment

“With ATF executives in attendance, we believed it was important for attendees to have an opportunity to hear from and engage with their leadership in open dialogue,” said Orchid CEO, Jon Rydberg.

Over 20 ATF executives will attend FIC 2022, including:

– Marvin Richardson, Acting Director, ATF
– Tom Chittum, Acting Associate Deputy Director, ATF
– Alphonso Hughes, Asst. Director, Office of Enforcement Programs & Services
– Andy Graham, Deputy Asst. Director, Office of Enforcement Programs & Services
– Marianna Mitchem, Chief, Firearms & Explosive Industry Division
– Curtis Gilbert, Deputy Asst. Director (Industry Operations), Office of Field Operations
– Andrew Lange, Chief, Office of Regulatory Affairs

“The Firearms Industry Conference is critically important, especially this year, to the firearms industry”, said Chuck James of the Williams Mullen Firearms Industry Group. Held April 21–27, FIC 2022 features virtual and in-person sessions led by Federal agency personnel, firearms industry leaders, and subject matter experts. Sessions are broken intro three tracks: Firearms Industry Law & Finance, FFL Compliance, and FFL Technology. FIC On-Air™ will be held online April 21–22, followed by FIC Workshops on April 25, with the main FIC event on April 26–27 in Atlanta. To register for FIC 2022, visit orchidadvisors.com/FIC.


This article is based on a news release by Orchid Advisors and FFL Law consultants.

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December 8th, 2021

ATF Will Offer New eForms System for NFA Transfers

ATF BATFE eform suppressor silencer nfa transfer application form 1 form 4

This report comes from the American Suppressor Association (ASA).
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has announced the imminent launch of a new electronic system for NFA transfers. Known as the eForms system, this overdue modernization will allow consumers to submit both ATF Forms 1 and 4 electronically, hopefully resulting in a significant decrease in transfer times when compared to traditional paper Forms. This should speed up acquisition of firearm suppressors, since these require a Form 4.

According to ATF, the transition to the new system will occur sometime after December 15th, but before Christmas. The new eForms system will handle all existing NFA transfer forms, including the ATF Form 4, which is used for transfers of suppressors.

What is the NFA?
The National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) requires the Federal registration of fully-automatic firearms, of short-barreled rifles and shotguns, of rifles over .50 caliber, and of firearms sound suppressors (termed “silencers” under the NFA).

Do NOT Withdraw an Existing Form 4 Submission
If you recently submitted an NFA application, keep it in the queue. The ASA cannot stress this enough. Withdrawing your Form 4 and re-submitting electronically will take longer than allowing your Form 4 to make its way through the approval process. Withdrawing and re-submitting electronically will add months to your overall application process.

That’s because ATF isn’t going to dig through the tens of thousands of forms being processed to find your application. They’re going to wait until your Form 4 reaches an NFA examiner’s desk – the exact point at which it would normally be approved – to process your withdrawal. Instead of approving it though, they will acknowledge your withdrawal and release your serial number. You will not be able to re-submit an eForm 4 with the same serial number until ATF acknowledges your withdrawal and puts it back into your dealers’ inventory.

While traditional paper-based applications will remain a viable option, ASA recommends that suppressor buyers submit new NFA applications electronically. That’s because, if the new eForms system works as promised, it will increase efficiencies by reducing form submission and payment processing times, eliminating weeks of delays in data processing, and all but eradicating data entry errors.

The ASA plans to provide updated information about eForms as soon the ATF officially launches the new program for submitting ATF Forms 1 and 4 electronically. In the meantime, stay tuned by following the American Suppressor Association on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Once the transition to the new eForms system begins, ATF estimates that the transition will take between two to four days to complete, at which point the new eForms system will go live. ATF has indicated that it will notify the industry 24 to 48 hours prior to the transition, and the ASA will post information as soon as it receives this notifice.

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September 10th, 2021

David Chipman Withdrawn as Nominee for ATF Director

ATF David Chipman Nomination BATFE Second Amendment Foundation

Recognizing that a confirmation vote was likely to fail, the Biden White House has retracted the nomination of David Chipman to head the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). An aggressive anti-gunner, Chipman has advocated the banning of AR-15s and other popular semi-auto rifles. There were concerns about the handling of his own, issued firearms when he worked for the ATF, and his statements as a paid anti-gun activist were extreme and worrisome. Chipman is currently a paid gun control lobbyist who has worked for Bloomberg’s Everytown, as well as the gun control groups Brady United and Giffords Law Center.

Sen. Mitch McConnell was pleased that the Biden Administration retracted the “terrible nomination of David Chipman”. McConnell noted that it was “absurd that a vocal opponent of Americans’ Constitutional rights was ever picked to run ATF. This is a win for the Second Amendment and law-abiding American citizens.”

Sen. Steve Daines concurred: “I’ve been opposed to David Chipman leading the ATF from the start. He’s an anti-Second Amendment, gun-grabbing radical that should not lead the agency that regulates firearms.”

“The defeat of David Chipman is a victory for all Americans who value the right of self-defense,” said Young Americans for Liberty spokesman Eric Brakey, who added: “Chipman has called for a total ban on private ownership of commonly-owned firearms — like the AR-15[.] President Biden should have never nominated this rabid activist on the payroll of Bloomberg-funded anti-gun groups to lead the ATF in the first place.” And the Second Amendment Foundation’s Alan Gottlieb stated: “This is a great grassroots victory for the Second Amendment.”

Immediately following Chipman’s nomination, Gottlieb said it had the smell of political patronage to the Giffords Law Center gun control lobbying group. He also accurately portrayed the nomination as a declaration of war on gun owners’ rights. “We predicted Joe Biden’s pick would ignite a political firestorm, and it did”, Gottlieb recalled. “The President has been so wrong on so many issues, and the Chipman nomination ranks right up there[.]”

Gottlieb continued: “We’re proud of the grassroots effort to defeat this foolish Biden scheme to put an acknowledged extremist gun ban advocate in charge of ATF[.] This is a major defeat for the billionaire elitists who bankroll the gun prohibition movement.”

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms declared that the withdrawal of anti-gun lobbyist David Chipman’s nomination to head the ATF is “a much-deserved defeat for the gun prohibition lobby and Joe Biden”.

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September 6th, 2021

Suppressors for Hunting — What You Need to Know

There is an informative article on the NRA’s American Hunter website regarding suppressor use for hunting. The article, What Hunters Need to Know About Suppressors, answers common questions about licensing, tax stamps, and suppressor types. The article explains the history of the $200 tax stamp which must be paid when acquiring a suppressor:

“Why the Tax? In 1934 … the federal government, while battling gangsters such as Al Capone, heavily restricted silencers with passage of the first National Firearms Act. Hoping to gain an advantage on criminals that often had better weapons than cops, the Feds placed a mandatory ‘sin’ tax on silencers that was so high it would effectively ban their purchase by all but the wealthiest individuals. In 1934, $200 was the equivalent of $3,500 today. The $200 tax still stands despite no evidence that a simple metal tube is capable of causing crime.” — American Hunter

The American Hunter article also discusses how well suppressors actually reduce noise. User should be aware that the sound level of a large, centerfire hunting cartridge will still exceed 130 decibels (dB) on average, even with a typical suppressor (silencer) in place. For that reason, we recommend that hunters continue to wear ear protection even when they shoot suppressed.

For example, Thunder Beast Arms says its latest Ultra 9 Suppressor will reduce the report of a .308 Win to 132-134 dB: “The ULTRA 9 will suppress a typical .308 bolt-action rifle down to approx. 132-134 dB. It also has very little or no ‘first round pop’ (FRP) in most applications.” NOTE: These dB levels are measured in accordance with MIL-STD-1474D using BK 2209 SLM offset one meter from muzzle.

How Loud Are Unsuppressed Rifles?
Firearms Are Loud — 140 dB to 175 dB. Audiology group ASHA explains: “Almost all firearms create noise that is over the 140-dB level. Exposure to noise greater than 140 dB can permanently damage hearing. A small .22-caliber rifle can produce noise around 140 dB, while big-bore rifles and pistols can produce sound over 175 dB. Firing guns in a place where sounds can reverberate, or bounce off walls and other structures, can make noises louder and increase the risk of hearing loss. Also, adding muzzle brakes or other modifications can make the firearm louder. People who do not wear hearing protection while shooting can suffer a severe hearing loss with as little as one shot[.] Audiologists see this often, especially during hunting season when hunters and bystanders may be exposed to rapid fire from big-bore rifles, shotguns, or pistols.” Source: ASHA, Recreational Firearm Noise Exposure.

suppressor fact and fiction moderator silencer

How Much Does a Good Suppressor Really Reduce Firearm Sound Levels?
That depends on the rifle, the cartridge, and the effectiveness of the suppressor. The American Hunter article explains: “Suppressors retard the speed of propellant gases from the cartridge that rapidly expand and rush out of the barrel. It’s these gases that produce the loud boom that’s heard for miles. A suppressor’s series of internal baffles slows these gases so they are not all released at once, thereby muffling the sound.” Many good commercial suppressors can achieve 30-35 dB sound suppression. However, Zak Smith of Thunder Beast Arms says: “There are a bunch of manufacturers who publish values that are not reproducible, or use an ad-hoc test instead of a mil-spec test. In many cases we’ve tested the exact same suppressors they’ve advertised with 30-40 dB reductions and found they are actually in the high 20s instead.”

Again, for this reason, we recommend that hunters use ear protection, such as electronic muffs, even when shooting suppressed.

Choosing a Suppressor for Hunting Use
The American Hunter article explains that there are many types of suppressors on the market. Bigger suppressors are heavier, but they normally are more effective. You also have a choice in muzzle attachments:

“For most hunting applications, direct thread is the best choice. If you intend to buy only one suppressor yet you have multiple guns, it’s advantageous to buy a model sized and rated for the largest caliber you intend to use. While a suppressor made specifically for a .223 Rem. will reduce the sound of that round slightly better than a model made for .30 caliber, for example, you can use a .30-caliber can for smaller calibers — but not vice-versa. In general, the bigger the can, the more it reduces sound. Smaller suppressors, however, are easier to carry in the woods.” — American Hunter


Chart from American Suppressor Association.

States Where Suppressor Ownership is Allowed
Currently, the following 42 states allow private ownership of suppressors: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY. NOTE: Suppressors are legal in Connecticut and Vermont, but hunting with silencers is not allowed in those states.

How to Apply for a Suppressor
To acquire a quality suppressor, you’ll first need to shop around, comparing verified performance. Unfortunately some manufacturer’s dB claims are exaggerated. Give due consideration to size, weight, and durability. When you’ve selected a brand and model, find a Class 3 dealer authorized by the ATF to sell suppressors. You must fill out ATF Form 4, get fingerprinted, and pass a background check. Along with two completed copies of Form 4, submit your fingerprint card, passport photo and a check for $200 to the ATF. Then you wait for the ATF to process your application. American Hunter says the average ATF suppressor processing wait time is now nine months.

BENEFITS OF SILENCERS

NOISE REDUCTION
According to OSHA, the threshold for a hearing safe impulse noise is 140 dB. Without hearing protection, exposure to any impulse noise over 140 dB causes varying degrees of permanent noise-induced hearing loss, which can also lead to tinnitus. Most well-engineered silencers take the dB level of their host firearm well below 140 dB, making those silencers effective primary hearing safety devices. You should always still wear hearing protection (muffs or plugs) when using suppressors.

RECOIL REDUCTION
By containing the explosion at the muzzle, suppressors significantly reduce perceived recoil energy, reduce the rifle’s rearward movement on recoil, and reduce rifle torquing and muzzle flip. The reduction of recoil (and rifle torquing/hopping) lessens shooter fatigue and helps the shooter get his sight picture back on target rapidly after firing. With smaller calibers, a suppressor may enable the shooter to maintain a nearly-continuous sight picture, following the shot into the target. In addition, by reducing felt recoil (and muzzle blast), a suppressor can help inexperienced shooters avoid flinching.

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