ATF / BATFE

April 25, 2014

ATF eForms Back online Today and how to obtain a copy of your electronic Form 1

Today I decided to check ATF eForms and it was back online for Form 6’s. The good news is it does show the status of previously submitted eForms. I was able to to see that a Form 1 I submitted at the end of November of 2013 was approved today. When ATF emails you confirmation of the approval it does not send you a copy of the form at the same time. If you want one or to make a electronic copy of the approved form, you can click on the approved forms section, then select the form by clicking on the one you want to view.

Next click the eye all the way at the right of the listing one you want.

Then you can select the View Form and PDF of the approved form will show in your browser or it will be downloaded.

April 17, 2014

ATF eForms back online within the week

by David M. Goldman

Today Marvin G. Richardson, Deputy Assistant Director of the ATF Enforcement Programs and Services sent a letter stating that ATF eForms is expected online this week.

The ATF has reduced the backlog of applications from 80,000 to 73,000.
Adding 15 additional staff to help process NFA applications
Cross training an additional 15 staff to assist in NFA processing
Prioritizing Form 3 and Form 4 paper application processing while eForms is being bolstered
Hired a private company to assist in enhancing the functionality of eForms
Will limit maintenance to Wednesdays
Will bring eForms back online for Form 6 and 6A.
Will allow Forms 1,2,5,9,5300.11 and 10 online over the next few weeks
Allow Form 4 and Form 1 processing in a new and improved eForms in the short-term

In the letter he states that electronic submission saves over 3 month in processing time, but I have personally seen that it can save a year in some cases. He further states that NFA applications re up over 380 percent in the last few years from 41,600 in 2005 to 199,900 in 2013. Many of these new applications have been because of new laws in many states legalizing suppressors and short barrel riffles. Gun Trusts have made these items available to many who live in areas where the CLEO will not sign a Form 4 or Form 1. To find out more about how a Gun Trust can help you protect your family and friends from violations of Gun Laws contact us.

This is good news and it looks like ATF is interested in maintaining eForms into the future.

April 17, 2014

Status Update on 41P

by David M. Goldman

The Americans Opposed to ATF 41P reported today that the American Silencer Association has talks with the ATF during the Shot Show where the ATF stated that they never anticipated the number of comments to 41P that they received and only had one person working part-time on addressing the comments. At that time ATF anticipated that it would take a year or two before they were able to determine whether they were going to move forward and if so to what extent they would try to implement any changes.

There were several major comments to 41P including ours that can be reviewed at https://www.guntrustlawyer.com/41p.html which should be able to challenge the ATF if the ATF should try to implement the changes because of the numerous violations of the Administrative Procedures Act.

So what does this mean?

April 6, 2014

ATF takes down eForms “until further notice”

by David M. Goldman

If you were planning on submitting a form electronically to save time, you may not be able to use eForms. I logged onto the ATF eForms website yesterday and saw the following message:

The eForms software is not performing to our expectations. As a result, we are taking the eForms system down until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work with our industry partners to deliver a quality product. Any eForm submitted will continue to be processed. The finalized forms will be sent to the user via email.

Until the eForms system is returned to service for the industry, all imports forms (Forms 6 Part I and 6A), NFA forms (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10), and AFMER reports (Form 5300.11) must be submitted via paper, including any eForms in draft status.

Copy of submitted or finalized eForm Direct a request to eForms.Request@atf.gov

Status queries

April 6, 2014

ATF Says it is OK to fire SB-15 Pistol from the Shoulder

by David M. Goldman

In a response to a recent letter the the ATF, the ATF stated:

FTB has previously determined (see FTB #99146) that the firing of a weapon from a particular position, such as placing the receiver extension of an AR-15 type pistol on the user’s shoulder, does not change the classification of a weapon. Further, certain firearm accessories such as the SIG stability brace have not been classified by the FTB as shoulder stocks and, therefore, using the brace improperly does not constitute a design change. Using an accessory improperly would not change the classification of a weapon under Federal law. However, the FTB cannot recommend using a weapon (or weapon accessory) in a manner not intended by the manufacturer.

The Letter that Sig sends with the SB-15 states that it is ok to use the brace as intended and does not create a firearm subject to the NFA. Previously this left many concerned that if someone was to use the brace not as intended an SBR would be created. This letter from the ATF clears up the issue and states that just because an accessory was not used as intended, the firearms is not reclassified by ATF.

If you would like a copy of the letter from the ATF for your records it can be downloaded.

March 10, 2014

Straw Purchases and Gun Trusts

by David M. Goldman

In the last 3 weeks we have received more calls about arrests or seizures involving the ATF and straw purchases than in the previous 7 years. (NOTE: none of these calls were from people using our gun trusts) We felt it important for individuals and those involved with Gun Trusts to understand the concept and how to make sure they are not involved in a straw purchase.

If you are in Florida and have been arrested for a straw purchase or have had firearms seized regarding a straw purchase, contact an attorney who is familiar with straw purchases and firearms. If you are in another state you should look for someone who deals with criminal law and is familiar with firearms. This type of representation can be a very expensive as it is typically a federal charge and most criminal lawyers do not practice in the federal courts.

A straw purchase is any purchase wherein an agent agrees to acquire a good or service for someone who is able or unable or unwilling to purchase the good or service himself, and the agent transfers the goods/services to that person after purchasing them.

February 13, 2014

ATF Forms Processing Time

by David M. Goldman

Today the ATF released new processing times based upon December 2013. The are now reporting the the average times for processing an ATF Form 1 to make and register a firearms is 9 months and the average time on an ATF Form 4 to transfer and register a NFA firearm in 9 months. We have seen significantly reduced times when applying electronically. Below are the times for each type of transfer and or application as reported by the ATF. It is interesting to see that they are taking 3 months to approve / process a transfer on a Form 3 and 2 months on a form 2. That means, it is taking ATF 2 months to approve the manufacture and 3 months to approve the transfer to a dealer. More than 5 months are required just to make and send a suppressor to your dealer so that you can wait an additional 9 months to take it home. The ATF will update this information every 90 days so we can see the trend.

As more people file electronically, we could start to experience longer wait times but for now we are hearing that many electronic Form 4s and Form 1s are taking between 3-6 months instead of 9-12 months for the traditional forms.
ATF times1.jpg

February 3, 2014

Texas Gun Trust Lawyer® :NFA Trust Special

by David M. Goldman

We work with more than 20 lawyers in Texas to provide Gun Trusts to their clients. As of this month Gun Trust Lawyer® David Goldman has been licensed in Texas. Texas is one of the biggest markets for NFA Trusts and Gun Trusts. Because of this we have seen many so called Gun Trusts that are nothing more than revocable trusts with a few gun or NFA terms.

There are many problems in using a traditional Gun Trust in Texas and most states because they tend to instruct your family and friends to do things that may be illegal or cause criminal liability to the others involved with your trust.

Much the same way as Nolo has stated that their product should not be used to create a Gun Trust, a traditional revocable trust should not be used to create a gun trust.

January 16, 2014

ATF Publishes eForms 101 Instructions

by David M. Goldman

Using an eForm to file your Form 1 or Form 4 can save several months processing time. We have seen that it can reduce the time from 9-12 months to 3-6 months. As we have outlined before, the ATFonline.gov website is not the easiest to use or understand and thus there have been many questions which ATF has attempted to address in this guide.

On January 15, 2015 the ATF released a new version of this Guide

The Topics covered include:

December 14, 2013

NRA-ILA’s Comment to 41p

by David M. Goldman

While the NRA’s comment is only 17 pages it incorporates many comments and references many including mine. On page one of the NRA’s comment they state

Many Hundreds of comments already published in opposition to 41P exhaustively catalog its various problems and potential for absurd consequences. For example, a comment submitted by David M. Goldman details how 41P is based on an unsophisticated and inaccurate view of the law governing trusts and estate planning.

The NRA’s comment primarily leads with the following 3 issues.