ATF Ends Enforcement of Registration Rules for Some Firearms

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will no longer enforce federal registration and approval requirements for several categories of firearms and silencers, under guidance effective October 9. The change applies nationwide, including to people who were not parties to the lawsuit that prompted the agency’s review, ATF said. The covered items are short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, silencers and firearms classified as “any other weapons” under federal law. ATF also said it will no longer require those items to be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Its guidance says Form 4s will no longer be required for transfers of the covered items. The change follows an August 5 ruling by a federal judge in Texas, who found the challenged National Firearms Act permitting provisions unconstitutional after Congress reduced the relevant tax to zero. The ruling initially applied to the parties in that case. The Justice Department chose not to appeal, and ATF issued broader enforcement guidance on October 9. The agency says other requirements remain. Buyers must still complete Form 4473 and pass a background check.