Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Justice ("Department") is amending Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") regulations to implement the provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that broaden the definition of when a person is considered "engaged in the business" ("EIB") as a dealer in firearms other than a gunsmith or pawnbroker. This final rule incorporates the BSCA's definitions of "predominantly earn a profit" ("PEP") and "terrorism," and amends the regulatory definitions of "principal objective of livelihood and profit" and "engaged in the business" to ensure each conforms with the BSCA's statutory changes and can be relied upon by the public. The rule also clarifies what it means for a person to be "engaged in the business" of dealing in firearms and to have the intent to "predominantly earn a profit" from the sale or disposition of firearms. In addition, it clarifies the term "dealer" and defines the term "responsible person." These clarifications and definitions assist persons in understanding when they are required to have a license to deal in firearms. Consistent with the Gun Control Act ("GCA") and existing regulations, the rule also defines the term "personal collection" to clarify when persons are not "engaged in the business" because they make only occasional sales to enhance a personal collection or for a hobby, or if the firearms they sell are all or part of a personal collection. This rule further addresses the procedures that former licensees, and responsible persons acting on behalf of such licensees, must follow when they liquidate business inventory upon revocation or other termination of their license. Finally, the rule clarifies that a licensee transferring a firearm to another licensee must do so by following the verification and recordkeeping procedures in the regulations, rather than by using a Firearms Transaction Record, ATF Form 4473.