Earlier today I received an email response from ATF in relation to FICG’s Comment in Opposition to ATF’s Proposed Changes to the 4473 Form which I drafted. You can find a copy of their response here.
In the comment I raised a number of issues including that ATF is the incorrect federal administrative agency for determinations of prohibition under 18 U.S.C. 922(g), that ATF cannot redefine a “fugitive from justice” in these proceedings, and issues relating to the certification statement. It was also requested that ATF revise the 4473 Form, consistent with the ATF Form 1 and Form 4, whereby it would include fields for fictitious entities, instead of requiring FFLs to draft and attach a fictitious entity form as required by 27 C.F.R. 478.124(g), for which, ATF provides no sample form. Most noteworthy, I challenged the language that ATF required individuals certifying information on the form to attest to.
Specifically, the individual is certifying that based on the
“…information in the current ATF Publication ‘State Laws and Published Ordinances’ – it is my belief that it is not unlawful for me to sell, deliver, transport, or otherwise disposes of the firearm(s) listed on this form to the person identified in Section A.”
The problem with that language is the the current publication of State Laws and Published Ordinances is the 31st version which dates from 2011. This means there is at least a 5 year lapse of information in the current guide.
The important part is that ATF’s own regulations require that “[t]he Director shall annually revise and furnish Federal firearms licensees with a compilation of State laws and published ordinances which are relevant to the enforcement of this part.” See27 C.F.R. § 478.24.
ATF’s response was rather comical.
Essentially, ATF said that they don’t care the regulations, which they drafted, require that book be updated but rather they would change the language so the individual signing the form would not need to certify they relied on that book for information.
As ATF has a long history of abusing its authority one cannot help but roll their eyes at the nonsense and lack of accountability the agency has. Perhaps some calls from concerned citizens to congressional leaders will help get ATF back on track.
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Maybe Trump could eliminate the ATF if elected?
“Shall not be infringed” as it were.
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Gentlemen,
Another outstanding post! Keep up the great work!
I cannot seem to find a link to send to friends so that they can subscribe to these emails. If I click “manage subscriptions” below it goes to WordPress and has settings specific to my address. Can you send a link (and add one to the right side of your blog) to Subscribe that I can distribute? Perhaps I am overlooking it on the WordPress site.
Thank you, I look forward to your articles!
Andrew Schlies
Mesa, Arizona
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Hi Andrew-
I honestly don’t know. The best suggestion I can come up with is send them a link to the blog and tell them to click the follow button in the top right.
I appreciate you reading the blog!
-Adam
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I see no reason to have such an agency. The Federal Bureau of Investigation could easily be expanded to regulate the matters ATF are subjected to. One would think one agency would be easier to keep an eye on and hold to accountability.
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