David Codrea: ATF Working to Impose Multiple Rifle Sales Reporting Under the Radar

A little noticed and virtually unreported April 15 notice posted in the Federal Register suggests the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives intends expanding the multiple rifle sale requirement currently imposed on four border states (Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas) to all states.

Titled “Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Report of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Certain Rifles,” and assigned OMB Number 1140–0100, the 60-day notice abstract declares “The purpose of this information collection is to require Federal Firearms Licensees to report multiple sales or other dispositions whenever the licensee sells or otherwise disposes of two or more rifles within any five consecutive business days with the following characteristics: (a) Semi automatic; (b) a caliber greater than .22; and (c) the ability to accept a detachable magazine.

“Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 60 days until June 16, 2014,” the notice advises. That means much of the comment period has already passed with most unaware it ever began. And the ATF website offers no additional information other than links to the notice and to various forms.
The question now becomes, especially with a seeming total lack of publicity, is ATF attempting an “under the radar” action to impose on the entire country what they previously imposed (over objections that could have been stronger) on southwest gun buyers and sellers?

“That's what it looks like,” one legal adviser approached for his read on this development offered. “And no, I haven't seen this yet, which is strange as I'm subscribed to the ATF Federal Register filings.”

Compounding the lack of information: There is nothing about this posted during April on ATF’s press release page. But such a move by the Holder Justice Department would not be unexpected.

“Now that ATF is saying straw purchasers are altering their behavior, expect that to be used as justification to expand this requirement to all the states,” this column anticipated in a May 5, 2012 report.

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