Critical we stop batfe rule change - please act now

YOU can stop BATFE’s efforts to force licensed dealers to report sales of certain rifles (semi-automatic, 22cal or larger with detachable magazines) dead in its tracks but you must do it now.

BATFE has called for a limited comment period in violation of the standard 60 day rule. If you remember, that tactic was used against gun owners by the anti-gun Sen. Daniel Akaka and Rep. Raul Grijalva to extend the comment period on the National Park Service ban repeal (see: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25630796/ns/us_news-life/).

We can now have Senators Webb & Warner call for BATFE to either follow the rules and have the comment period set at the usual and normal 60 days or come before Congress for hearings. HOWEVER, it is imperative that you contact Webb & Warner NOW. Send them emails. Flood their offices with phone calls and tell them you want the comment period by BATFE extended on FR Doc. 2010–31755 (collection of data on multiple sales of rifles). Make sure you refer to the “FR Doc. number” in any phone call or correspondence.

Addresses for Senators Webb & Warner:

Senator Webb contact form:
http://www.webb.senate.gov/contact.cfm
(202) 224-4024
contact: Trevor Moe - Trevor_Moe@webb.senate.gov

Senator Warner:
http://warner.senate.gov/public//index.cfm?p=ContactPage
202-224-2023
Contact: August Humphries


Sample email you can cut & paste:

Dear Senator:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives is attempting to force licensed firearms dealers to report multiple sales of certain long guns (FR Doc. 2010-31755) without allowing the customary public comment period. This regulation was published in the December 17th Federal Register and comments close January 5th, 2011. That is less than 3 weeks over the holiday season and is a deliberate attempt by ATF to ram through a regulation they know will not survive a comment period and quite possibly is illegal.

In 2008, Congress intervened and re-opened the comment period for the Department of the Interior’s amended weapons regulation after the first comment period had closed for National Parks.

Done

Keep trying to get through to the BATFE

The BATFE phones are not being answered in the Firearms Industry Program Branch. The desk officer's name is Barbara Terrell. If you are fortunate enough to get through, you cannot leave her a voice message. Her answering sevice says her voice mailbox is full and it then disconnects you.

Call the main Firearms Industry Programs Branch number at (202) 648-7190. They just want to direct calls. Make them take your message. They are much more responsive if you ask them to spell their name.

Fax them at (202) 648-9640

e mail them at: fipb@atf.gov

From the Chief JBT - A Demand Letter & 1 year, not 6 months

Warning Duct Tape Alert. Get your puke buckets ready. Skid I think your head will explode when you read the last paragraph.

Link: http://www.ammoland.com/2010/12/21/...multiple-sales-of-long-guns-in-border-states/

ATF Acting Director Announces Demand Letters for Multiple Sales of Specific Long Guns in Four Border States

By Ken Melson, the Acting Director of ATF.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- A recent initiative by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has caught the attention of national media outlets. I wanted to make sure everyone heard from me about this law enforcement initiative so there isn’t any confusion.

Recently, ATF announced through the Federal Register our intent to initiate a new Demand Letter requiring the reporting of multiple sales of certain long guns by Federal Firearms Licensees, known as FFLs, in the four Southwest Border States. We took this step as a way to help gain actionable law enforcement intelligence which we believe will help reduce criminal firearms trafficking along the Southwest border.

Before we can actually issue the Demand Letter we must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget for purposes of the paperwork reduction act. We expect to receive that approval in early January, 2011.

As many of you already know, the goals of ATF’s Southwest border firearms trafficking strategy are:
•To prevent violent crime;
•Ensure the safety of the communities and law enforcement situated along the Southwest Border;
•And to disrupt and dismantle the firearms trafficking networks responsible for the diversion of firearms from lawful commerce into the hands of the Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs)

Since 2006, there has been a significant increase in drug and firearms-related violence in Mexico and along our Southwest border. In response to this increased violence, ATF has deployed focused resources nationally to prevent the firearms trafficking along the Southwest Border and into Mexico.

According to ATF trace data, investigative experience, and Mexican law enforcement officials, a large number of rifles are being used in violent crimes in Mexico and along the border. Our new Demand Letter will implement a limited reporting of multiple sales of certain long guns that functions similarly to the current practice of reporting on the multiple sales of handguns. Currently, all FFLs in the country are required to submit a report of multiple sales to the National Tracing Center when an FFL sells two or more handguns to the same purchaser within five consecutive business days.

The proposed Demand Letter, which is narrowly circumscribed to meet our objectives, will apply a similar reporting requirement to certain long guns, but with these distinct differences:

First, the reporting requirement will apply only to FFLs doing business in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, which are major source states for crime guns seized in Mexico and traced to federal firearms licensees.

Secondly, the reporting requirement applies only to those rifles having all of the following characteristics:
•A semi-automatic action;
•A caliber greater than .22; and
•The ability to accept a detachable magazine.

These specific characteristics subject a very narrow group of long guns that have been identified by ATF and the Government of Mexico as being involved in violent crimes in Mexico to the reporting requirement. This reporting requirement would apply to the disposition of all rifles in the inventory of the FFLs exhibiting these characteristics, both new and used.

Third, we propose to implement this initiative as a pilot project for a period of one year.

Taken together, limiting the geographic scope, impacting a limited number of licensees, affecting a specific group of rifles, and limiting the duration of this reporting requirement, form a tailored, discreet, responsible and proactive response to a significant law enforcement issue.

Let me be absolutely clear. The purpose of requiring FFLs to report the specified multiple long gun sales in these four source states is to identify criminal firearms traffickers, not to prevent the full and free exercise of our Second Amendment rights, or to encumber the FFLs with burdensome paperwork.

These reports will give ATF real-time leads for the investigation of gun trafficking. ATF’s experience in these source states proves that multiple purchases of the described rifles are strong indicators of firearms trafficking to Mexico. By obtaining information about these multiple sales, ATF increases the likelihood of uncovering and disrupting trafficking schemes before the firearms make their way into Mexico.

I know that FFLs are good citizens who share ATF’s interest and commitment in keeping guns out of criminal hands. Working together we can do that without infringing on the rights of law abiding Americans.

... Taken together, limiting the geographic scope, ...

Click to expand...

Yeah right, it's "only" 18% of the US's total land area ... !

... and 23% of the country's total population !!!

Back to the top / update

Folks, if you haven't taken the time to contact our Senators, there's still time and their offices are still staffed.

Some offices have already weighed in:
http://www.gunleaders.com/blog/2010/12/23/congress-opposing-batfe-rifle-registration-scheme/



Critical we stop batfe rule change - please act now
YOU can stop BATFE’s efforts to force licensed dealers to report sales of certain rifles (semi-automatic, 22cal or larger with detachable magazines) dead in its tracks but you must do it now.

BATFE has called for a limited comment period in violation of the standard 90 day rule. If you remember, that tactic was used against gun owners by the anti-gun Sen. Daniel Akaka and Rep. Raul Grijalva to extend the comment period on the National Park Service ban repeal (see: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25630796/ns/us_news-life/).

We can now have Senators Webb & Warner call for BATFE to either follow the rules and have the comment period set at the usual and normal 90 days or come before Congress for hearings. HOWEVER, it is imperative that you contact Webb & Warner NOW. Send them emails. Flood their offices with phone calls and tell them you want the comment period by BATFE extended on FR Doc. 2010–31755 (collection of data on multiple sales of rifles). Make sure you refer to the “FR Doc. number” in any phone call or correspondence.

Addresses for Senators Webb & Warner:

Senator Webb contact form:
http://www.webb.senate.gov/contact.cfm
(202) 224-4024
contact: Trevor Moe - Trevor_Moe@webb.senate.gov

Senator Warner:
http://warner.senate.gov/public//index.cfm?p=ContactPage
202-224-2023
Contact: August Humphries


Sample email you can cut & paste:

Dear Senator:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives is attempting to force licensed firearms dealers to report multiple sales of certain long guns (FR Doc. 2010-31755) without allowing the customary public comment period. This regulation was published in the December 17th Federal Register and comments close January 5th, 2011. That is less than 3 weeks over the holiday season and is a deliberate attempt by ATF to ram through a regulation they know will not survive a comment period and quite possibly is illegal.