ATF Launches New Era of Reform

Source: “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.” ATF Launches New Era of Reform | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/atf-launches-new-era-reform. Accessed 22 May 2025.

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. 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. 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.

Recent Updates

May 21, 2025: Protecting Second Amendment Rights

May 20, 2025: Federal Firearms Administrative Action Policy and Procedures

April 23, 2025: Memo - NICS Alert Policy