WASHINGTON, D.C. -(Ammoland.com)- Newly leaked documents have shown the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has stepped up its zero-tolerance policy against federal firearms licensees (FFLs).
The documents were turned up by Gun Owners of America (GOA) and show that the ATF is targeting FFLs with license revocations. The Biden administration has vowed to target “rogue” FFLs, and it seems like the ATF is capitulating to his demands. An earlier AmmoLand News report shows that revocations increased by 500% last year.
“Joe Biden has weaponized ATF against gun owners and the firearms industry in an attempt to violate the Second Amendment and expand his illegal gun registry,” Aidan Johnston, GOA’ Director of Federal Affairs told AmmoLand. “Rather targeting those who display clear negligence and disregard for the law, ATF now revokes licenses without warning at the discovery of a first mistake by honest gun dealers. When Federal Firearms Licensees are forced out of business, ATF adds their records to its digital gun registry that has nearly a billion gun and gun owner records. GOA is already working with Second Amendment champions like Rep. Michael Cloud on Capitol Hill to address this alarming issue and eliminate this unconstitutional gun registry.”
The documents lay down the new one-strike policy that is being implemented nationwide by the Bureau. The guidelines were sent to Industry Operation Inspectors (IOIs) across the country. These ATF employees are responsible for inspections of FFLs to ensure compliance with the law.
The new policy will see more FFLs lose their license for a litany of violations. Transferring a firearm to someone that is in the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) indices as prohibited will get an FFL revoked. It goes even further. Even if a person passes a NICS check, and the IOI determines that the FFL has reasons to believe that person is prohibited, the IOI can revoke the gun shop’s license and shutter the operation.
The ATF will shut down the gun store if an FFL fails to run a background check or verify an alternate permit. Certain states, like Arizona, allow a concealed carry permit to be used instead of running a NICS check. If an FFL runs a NICS check and it is delayed, the FFL can transfer the firearm legally after three days. If the FFL transfers the gun early, this is reason enough for the FFL to have their license revoked.
Even if the NICS check is approved, if the gun shop transfers the firearm 30 days after the FBI gives the go-ahead, the ATF will put it out of business. The dealer must run a new background check. This policy even applies to pawn redemptions and consignments.
Gun shops also must respond to trace requests within 24 hours or have their FFL revoked by the ATF.
This standard could have devastating effects on tabletop dealers that do not operate the phones every day. When this writer owned a gun shop in Virginia and worked for a Silicon Valley-based company somehow, the ATF got my California number and called for a trace request. Since I spent almost all my time in Virginia, I missed the trace request for three days. If that had happened now, my FFL would have been revoked.
Anything the ATF considers false or misleading on an FFL application would be grounds for revocation. This provision includes withholding information. The document does not provide any additional information about what would be considered misleading.
The final reason for the revocation of an FFL would deny entry to an IOI during business hours. When an FFL application is filled out, applicants must provide business hours even if they only plan to work by appointment. If an IOI shows up during those hours, they must be granted access to the business. This provision also might affect tabletop dealers that do not keep regular hours.
The IOI’s discretion is removed from the document, making revocation the default standard.
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
Time to take this agency to court. Not their ‘rules’ but the agency as a whole as being unconstitutional and having no historical precedent for its existence.
Seems the ATF is truly the ONLY thing that is NOT “in common use” or of a historical entity of the 2nd Amendment.
The Red Coats are the closest thing to a anti-gun rights entity within the government back them.
We sent them back to England.
Some of them.
Used some to fertilize the crops.
Twice. Don’t forget they tried again in 1812. Same result.Seems they got the message the secong time, but that thinking has since infiltrated and now grows like a cancer. King George had nuthin’ in King Joe.
So they did conquer the United States…
HLB
No, no, no, no, NO!! Going to “court” is the very LAST thing anyone should do, unless of course they are going there with the express purpose and intent of exposing the crimes of the legal system that are going on! Or to demand to see it IN WRITING where we are guaranteed to actually GET a fair trial!! The legal system is completely corrupted and cannot ever be trusted to do a damn thing, other than to commit even MORE crimes against us in order to generate more revenue and to preserve itself!! EVERY courtroom in America is listed… Read more »
More like time to revoke ATF Agents.
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT! First REMOVE, PROHIBIT EVERY “rule or regulation” of the “atf/aft” the GCA the NFA and ALL of the TENTACLES coming out of the “atf” by ANY and EVERY Law Enforcement Agency. REMOVE and DELETE all INFORMATION the atf has given to FOREIGN NATIONS, GOVERNMENTS, ORGANIZATIONS or INDIVIDUALS. THEN, DEFUND the ATF and all offices involved! After this REMOVE and ABOLISH the UNLAWFULLY ACTING ATF!
I seriously think the divorce is inevitable – give them the blue states and we keep the red ones. They will not be happy until they have their boots on our necks. I’m old enough that I don’t give a damn, I WILL NOT COMPLY or as we say down here in Texas – Come and Take It!
I basically made the same comment a while back. I said that I was willing to compromise. Submit a bill to make it illegal for anyone who is, works for, has supported and/or has voted for a gun grabber politician or organization to own a firearm or hire any security company that is licensed to use firearms. That would allow them to have the laws as they would want them, but only on their supporters. Basically the same as yours but dividing it individually instead of on a state by state basis. All anyone saw was the word “compromise”, down… Read more »
Austin Knudsen our AG in Montana just filed a lawsuit against the clowns at the ATF over thier brace ruling . Our Montana AG is about to show the ATF where the bear shits in the woods in Montana .
Would that the REPROBATE DemoKKKratic “politicians” in Maryland would do the same! However, the DemoKKKratic GRIFTERS who control Maryland keep voting entirely with the COMMUNISTS who are attempting a COUP against America!
Texas AG Ken Paxton just filed a suit against the feds as well as half or more of the states. More Than Half Of The Country’s Attorneys General Sue The Federal Government Over ATF Pistol Brace Final Rule (msn.com)
Did he file against the feds AND against half of the other states? Or, did he file against the feds in concert with half the other states? Grammar is a powerful tool. Learn, and apply wisely.
The US Constitution is NOT a “living document”. Anyone who treats is as such is a traitor.
we need to revoke our communist leaning government hang every one of our so called representativies that goes against or constitution
Revoke the atf.
I’m pretty confident that the 5th Circuit and 10th Circuit, the WV vs EPA, and Bruin ALL made it abundantly clear that the ATF would be OUT OF BOUNDS and operating in gross overreach should they attempt any of this.
ATF is way past it’s never useful existence.
The ATF is the bane of most, if not all, FFL holders.
Maybe begin creating a database of ATF IOIs for future reference in the event ATF begins referencing their illegal database.
Need more reason to get involved locally working to help solid 2A Liberty and Freedom loving candidates get elected? Every SINGLE DAY an illustrious, tirelessly hardworking content producer bangs the damn Oppression Bell alerting us to yet another flanker attack on our God given rights here at Ammoland. Ammoland provides just about all the tools needed for each and everyone of us to make a positive contribution to Freedom in our neighborhoods. Not only do the content producers share solid information and tips how to achieve success, posters like Musicman44mag, have laid out tips for us in mail only ballot… Read more »
I sent a letter to Governor DeSantis AND his wife about the disaster AND the embarrassment they will face if he does not kick back the CC Bill for a re-write. I just hope one of the two actually reads their e-mail.
Thank you, I know it feels in adequate but our input makes a difference. You probably know this so accept my apologies for being redundant. There is a grading system, I cannot remember the name, that each and every government entity uses for every piece of communication they receive. The list has every registered voter in the county. It breaks down how many times you have cast a ballot in the past 8 years or more, depending upon the County Auditor. They look at who sent the communiqué and then they look for the name in the active voter file,… Read more »
This is nothing more than a “Catch 22”, orchestrated by none other thsn the criminal enterprises known as the Clinton/Obama/Biden Crime Syndicate. They have numerous associates and Capos throughout federal, state and local governments across our nation. How did we let this come to pass!!
It is CALLED THEFT of Presidential Elections. The EVIDENCE for Bushs’ and Clinkton’s installment was only barely noticeable. The EVIDENCE is rudimentally NOTICEABLE during the 0b0z0 APPOINTMENT. The EVIDENCE IS BLATANTLY EVIDENCED in the Buythem APPOINTMENT. EVEN “the big man” STATED the VIABLE FRAUD SYSTEM the DemoKKKratic National COMMUNIST Committee USED!
Paragraph 5a.: “…The nature of the violations, their impact on public safety, and ATF’s ability to reduce violent crime are significant considerations in determining appropriate administration action.” That sounds like “interest balancing” to me. If Bruen forbids interest balancing in laws, by extension it should extend to regulations and policies. For every day an FFL is shut down over a minor non-willful violation they should sue ATF for damages to the tune of 1/365.25 the ATF’s annual budget. The juicy bits start on page 6 where a violation is deemed willful if the FFL has done things correctly in the… Read more »
No FFL’s make it hard to get weapons.
Home weapons production makes it easy to get weapons.
HLB
Why should gun owners and FFL’s be any different than the rest of the American people?
Uh? Because WE actually HAVE the guns?
That statement can be interpreted a number of ways. Could you explain what you mean, a little clearer, please?
We don’t think they should be any different. We believe that everyone should have all of their rights… including the second amendment. Who said anything different. If you don’t think the American people should have ALL of their constitutional rights, which ones do you think they shouldn’t have and why?
I was just being cocky. All American citizens should retain and protect all of their rights except for those that blatantly disregard those rights and give them away through acts of criminality or stupidity by waving them. In other words, if a person goes out and does an act that violates the rights either himself or violates the rights of another citizen then I personally believe that you should lose certain rights.
AGREED!
This is how I state it: You have the RIGHTS and FREEDOMS to do ANYTHING you want to do, UP TILL you start to INFRINGE UPON MY RIGHTS and FREEDOMS to do what I want to do, and vice versa!
Here is another way of describing behavior and actions – This is how I was brought up with;
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”