ATF Issues a Statement Announcing That It Has Ushered In a ‘New Era of Reform’

As has been said so many times before, elections have consequences. One of the most notable for those who value the Second Amendment and what it stands for are the actions the Trump administration has taken to support and defend the right to keep and bear arms. That has included significant changes at ATF, the politicized, scandal-plagued executive branch agency that’s tasked with regulating firearms manufacturers, retailers and enforcing federal gun laws.

When Trump was elected again in November, the calls once again went up to abolish the rogue agency. But while that makes for compelling mailers to the constituents back home, the odds of that happening are somewhere between Joe Biden’s PSA score and none. That, however, doesn’t mean progress isn’t being made there. First, FBI Director Kash Patel was given the additional duty of being ATF’s acting director. Being a busy guy, he eventually handed off that duty to Dan Driscoll who holds that title now while the Trump White House figures out who they want to run things long term.

Yesterday, however, ATF published the following on its web site touting the steps the agency has taken to undo some of the years of damage and reform its ways . . .

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is ushering in a new chapter—marked by transparency, accountability, and partnership with the firearms industry. This is not the same ATF of the last four years. We are fundamentally changing course with a renewed focus on rebuilding trust with federal firearms licensees (FFLs), gun owners, and the public by prioritizing public safety and collaboration.

Under new leadership, ATF has already taken significant steps, including:

1. 1. Ending the Enhanced Regulatory Enforcement Policy that had targeted firearms dealers.
   2. Publishing a new Administrative Action Policy that emphasizes firearm traceability and public safety and deemphasizes immaterial paperwork errors.
   3. Encouraging any federal firearms licensees that had their licenses revoked or surrendered under the Enhanced Regulatory Enforcement Policy to reapply. Those applications will be judged under the new Administrative Action Policy.
   4. Removing revoked FFL inspection reports from ATF’s public website.
   5. Instituting a NICS alert policy that restricts use of NICS alerts to federal firearms trafficking violations.
   6. Establishing a Senior Industry Partnership Advisor/Liaison within the Office of the Director to address industry concerns and foster productive engagement.
   7. Establishing a classifications board and requiring all new firearm classifications to be reviewed and approved by the Office of the Director prior to publication.
   8. Ensuring that all rules fairly implement congressional statutes rather than create entirely new laws by administrative order.
   9. Improving response time from the Firearms & Ammunition Technology Division (FATD) to FFL inquiries.
   10. Reversing a ban on the importation of non-lethal training ammunition.

Additional efforts currently in progress include:

1. 1. Publishing an updated Commerce Report.
   2. Updating ATF Form 20 (Authorization to Transport Firearms) into a simplified notice-based system.
   3. Updating and simplifying ATF Form 4473 to make it more concise and user-friendly for both purchasers and FFLs.
   4. Publishing an open letter on changes to the Brady Chart.
   5. Ensuring uniformity in dealer inspections and enforcement across regions.
   6. Publishing an open letter reversing a ban on the importation of dual use barrels.
   7. Publishing a ruling to allow electronic signatures on NFA forms.
   8. Reviewing all current regulations to identify and eliminate outdated or unnecessary rules.

What do you think? Does this make you feel better about things?