Home Business ATF Proposes Common Sense Change. No, Really.

ATF Proposes Common Sense Change. No, Really.

February 8, 2012

Our northwestern correspondent, Chris Dumm, has been struck almost, well, dumb. It seems that our friends at the ATF have proposed a common sense change to the firearm import permitting rigamarole that actually makes some common sense. Here’s Chris’s breathless email to our fearless leader. . .

RF:

I read through the notice and the proposed rule, and this actually looks like a good thing. From the ATFE. I’m almost dead from shock, really.

Currently, firearms importers have to apply for a firearm/ammo import permit from the ATFE, and then they have to jam the whole contract’s worth of guns and stuff through the sales contract AND inspection AND shipping AND customs within 12 months. If there’s a glitch and they don’t get it done in 12 months, their permit expires and it’s a PITA to ask for an extention even though they’re almost always granted.

This new rule would see the ATFE issuing 24-month import licenses instead of 12-month licenses, so there wouldn’t be as much of a rush on the importers and less of a monitoring and approval burden on the ATFE itself.

Odd that Holder would propose this; maybe it has something to do with the shitloads of M1 Garands soon to return from Korea?

Chris

Color us surprised. Happily. Anything that makes the import process easier should lead to more gun choices at a lower cost. Theoretically, anyway.

Here’s a link to the relevant legalese in the federal register containing the proposal. You needed some sleep anyway, right? It all boils down to this paragraph.

This proposed rule does not impose any new reporting or recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act. ATF Form 6 currently states that a permit is valid for 12 months from the Director’s date of approval, which is specified on the permit. If this proposed rule is adopted, the ATF Form 6 will be revised under currently approved OMB control number 1140–0005 to reflect the 2 year (24 months) amended period of validity for import permits.

Sorry, but I have to get my shotgun. The dogs are barking at all those pigs flying around outside my window.

23 COMMENTS

Moonshine7102 February 8, 2012 At 15:09

The ATF…is making life easier…for people who import firearms?

[head explodes]
- IdahoPete February 9, 2012 At 12:20
  
  +1. Is this one of those “urban internet myths”? Anyone verify this report on Snopes?
Anthony Meruelo February 8, 2012 At 15:15

I don’t see where the further infringements on our freedoms comes in. We are still talking about the ATF, right?
Michael Bakowski February 8, 2012 At 15:21

I just wish they would open up the “Assault Weapons” Importation ban. All it does it make busy work and limit smaller companies from marketing their weapons to the US.

(Plus the Izhmash Tiger would be one kick ass hunting rifle.)
C. Walther February 8, 2012 At 15:43

This pretty much sums it up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY-03vYYAjA
CarlosT February 8, 2012 At 16:32

Anyone checked weather.com for hell? Is it snowing?
- Derek February 8, 2012 At 17:19
  
  No, but I did just see a report that NORAD has detected a number of pig-size UFOs moving at about Mach 2.
Graybeard February 8, 2012 At 17:13

Holder is trying to buy off TTAG’s readers to quit bringing up that pesky F&F stuff.

Really, there are people in the bureaucracy who want to do things better. Sometimes they succeed. This looks like one of those times.
Just Another Matt February 8, 2012 At 17:16

there HAS to be something in the fine print somewhere!!!!!!!
Dirk Diggler February 8, 2012 At 17:21

It is a trap.
- CarlosT February 8, 2012 At 17:33
  
  Now I’ve got Admiral Ackbar’s voice in my head.
  - VA Pete February 8, 2012 At 19:15
    
    Or Sheldon Cooper’s impression of Admiral Ackbar.
Aharon February 8, 2012 At 17:41

Holder did state recently that he is not going to serve a second term…like maybe. If true, then maybe he has decided to buy stock in the firearms industry and open a chain of gun shops along the US-Mexican border specializing in AKs and ARs.
Javier February 8, 2012 At 18:02

Holder is going to open a gun store in the heart of DC when this term finishes so he’s just getting all the logistics ready.
caffeinated February 8, 2012 At 18:17

Red Herring?
Ralph February 8, 2012 At 18:49

It’s only a 24 month permit if ATF chooses to issue a permit. Which it won’t.
okto February 8, 2012 At 18:55

Next you’re going to tell us they rescinded the NFA.
- Totenglocke February 8, 2012 At 20:10
  
  If I woke up one day and read that the NFA and the Hughes Amendment were overturned, I’d probably have a heart attack from being so excited.
  - Robert Farago February 8, 2012 At 20:18
    
    You and the ammunition companies.
    - Derek February 9, 2012 At 08:13
      
      HAH! I can see it now. WWB and RUMC being sold in 1k round cases at Wally World.
oobah February 9, 2012 At 09:57

Yeah. Right! They’re going to “help” us.

Sorry but they have burned every bridge, salted every well, raped all the women after they shot all the men and male children, then they stole or shot all the livestock. But that was then and they’ve changed!

It wasn’t our idea and no, we can’t just get along.

The safest thing to do with a bear (using the Soviet analogy, deliberately) is to presume that he will eat you, just as he has done with others before. Unless you are stupid, in which case you will become his lunch.
Varmint Hunter February 9, 2012 At 12:02

The ONLY reason this change is being implemented is because it was previously inconveniencing the government. It’s NOT being changed to increase the public’s convenience. Somewhere along the line, ATF decided that the 12-months rule was a pain in the ass for ATF, not anyone else.
- IdahoPete February 9, 2012 At 12:22
  
  Yeah, that’s most likely the explanation. ATF was probably tired of getting grief from Congress over the delays on the permits.