ATF is moving ahead with getting rid of the CLEO signoff on NFA Firearms

[ts548]

Well it appears the ATF is moving forward with getting rid of the CLEO signoff for NFA firearms.

Abstract: The Department of Justice is proposing to amend the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regarding the making or transferring of a firearm under the National Firearms Act. The proposed regulations would (1) add a definition for the term "responsible person"; (2) require each responsible person of a corporation, trust or legal entity to complete a specified form, and to submit photographs and fingerprints; (3) require that a copy of all applications to make or transfer a firearm be forwarded to the chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) of the locality in which the maker or transferee is located; and (4) eliminate the requirement for a certification signed by the CLEO.

View Rule

[mancow]

I wonder what part this plays into the larger criminal plan?

[rescue161]

They've been talking about removing the CLEO sign-off requirement for a while. People have been using trusts and other ways to bypass the CLEO for a long time. To me, it looks like they are making it harder to get NFA items using a trust or corp by now requiring fingerprints/photos of named "responsible persons." I guess they are trying to move people away from trusts/corps in the hopes that they will just register it as an individual. Being in NC, I had to get my CLEO to sign even if I had a trust, so I went the individual route when I bought my M10. I'm thinking about SBRing everything else in the safe just so I don't have to deal with any stupid new AWB that may appear out of thin air...