National Association of Arms Shows, Inc.

The New BATF Forms

By: Mark Barnes

       Last October BATF decided, as a result of September 11th, that the federal forms required to transfer a firearm 4473 need to be revised in order to determine the proper status of an alien attempting to purchase a firearm.

      Unfortunately as most readers are well aware BATF was not able and did not deliver the new forms by their own deadline of February 19, 2002. The lack of proper forms caused a major problem for federally licensed firearm dealers (FFLs) as confusion led to a virtual shutdown in firearms' commerce. BATF has now allowed FFLs  to use photocopies of the new form until their new deadline of April 20, 2002.

      The revised Form 4473, which can be accessed from the BATF's website, is identified as the "10/2001 version of the original ATF Form 4473 Part 1, including  instructions." When using a photocopy of the new 4473, dealers must provide their non-licensed firearm customers with both the form and its instructions while they complete the form. The completed forms and instruction sheets must be retained in dealers records for the time period specified in 27 CFR 178.129

 

 

BATF Regulations on Importation of Firearms by Non-resident Aliens

By: Mark Barnes

      As a result of the war on Terrorism BATF has instituted new regulations requiring import permits for non-immigrant aliens to bring guns into the U.S. In a hearing on Capitol Hill Representative Sununu (R-NH) whose congressional district is frequented by both U.S. and Canadian hunters, inquired from BATF Director Brad Buckles if BATF had consulted with interested parties prior to implementation of regulations that required non-immigrant aliens to acquire import permits for firearms into the U.S. Ð Buckles conceded that BATF had not reached out to affected parties and that the regulation had now been published as a proposed rule.