Category Archives: ATF

ATF NFA Registration Changes and What They Mean for Virginia Gun Owners and Dealers

Posted on October 10, 2026 by John Pierce

ATF’s October 9 open letter announces nationwide non-enforcement of NFA approval and registration requirements for suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and “any other weapons” (AOWs). While this offers immediate relief from paperwork and approval delays and is a … Continue reading →

Posted in "FAIR" Unit, 2A, 4th Circuit, 5th Circuit, Administrative Deference, Administrative Law, AOW, ATF, ATF Guidance Letters, Criminal Law, Federal Court, Federal Law, FFL Issues, Firearms Industry, Form 1, Form 20, Form 4, Inheriting Firearms, Interstate Move, Interstate Travel, NFA Injunction, NFA Trusts, SBR, SBS, Second Amendment, Short Barreled Rifles, Short Barreled Shotguns, Virginia Law, Virginia Politics | Comments Off on ATF NFA Registration Changes and What They Mean for Virginia Gun Owners and Dealers

Why I Still Recommend a Form 4 for Most Suppressor Buyers – For Now

Posted on September 28, 2026 by John Pierce

The 4473-only option is faster, but an approved Form 4 provides important flexibility for trusts, shared possession, travel, repairs, later transfers, and estate planning. The recent permanent injunction in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF is an important victory. For qualifying … Continue reading →

Posted in 2A, 4473, ATF, Federal Court, Federal Law, FFL Issues, Form 4, Injunctions, Interstate Travel, NFA Injunction, NFA Transfers, NFA Trusts, Suppressors, Tax Stamp | Comments Off on Why I Still Recommend a Form 4 for Most Suppressor Buyers – For Now

Do I need a Form 20 or a Form 5 when sending in my NFA item for gunsmithing?

Posted on September 14, 2026 by John Pierce

Question: Do I need ATF approval before delivering or shipping an NFA firearm to a gunsmith for repair, refinishing, customization, evaluation, or other gunsmithing work? Short answer: A Form 5 generally is not required, although ATF recommends it as an … Continue reading →

Posted in AOW, ATF, BATFE, Firearms Industry, Form 20, Form 5, Gunsmithing, Shipping Firearms, Short Barreled Rifles, Short Barreled Shotguns | Comments Off on Do I need a Form 20 or a Form 5 when sending in my NFA item for gunsmithing?

Texas NFA Injunction Is Now in Effect—But Major Compliance Questions Remain for FFLs

Posted on August 13, 2026 by John Pierce

Executive Summary On August 5, 2026, U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix held that specified National Firearms Act registration and advance-approval requirements exceed Congress’s enumerated powers as applied to suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and “any other weapons” whose making … Continue reading →

Posted in 2A, 5th Circuit, AOW, ATF, BATFE, Court Rulings, FFL Issues, Fifth Circuit, Firearms Industry, Form 3, Form 4, Injunctions, NFA Transfers, SBR, SBS, Second Amendment, Short Barreled Rifles, Short Barreled Shotguns | Comments Off on Texas NFA Injunction Is Now in Effect—But Major Compliance Questions Remain for FFLs

Understanding the August 5th ruling in the Silencer Shop Foundation v. BATFE case

Posted on August 5, 2026 by John Pierce

Federal Court Rules Key NFA Registration Requirements Unconstitutional—What the Decision Actually Changes Last updated August 5, 2026. Executive Summary On August 5, 2026, a federal district court in Texas held that major portions of the National Firearms Act’s registration and … Continue reading →

Posted in 2A, 5th Circuit, AOW, ATF, BATFE, Court Rulings, Federal Court, Federal Law, Fifth Circuit, Firearms Industry, Injunctions, Machine Guns, NFA Transfers, SBR, SBS, Second Amendment, Short Barreled Rifles, Short Barreled Shotguns | Comments Off on Understanding the August 5th ruling in the Silencer Shop Foundation v. BATFE case