Gun buyers no longer need to notify local police chiefs
What happened
The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives wants to remove a rule that requires gun buyers to notify their local police chief. This means that when someone applies to make or transfer a firearm covered by the National Firearms Act, their local law enforcement will no longer automatically be informed.
beforeCLEO notification required
afterCLEO notification removed
Why this matters
Since 1934, the National Firearms Act has required a local law enforcement sign-off or notification for certain types of firearms. This rule was meant to give local police a heads-up about who in their area was acquiring these weapons. Removing it means local police will lose a long-standing source of information about regulated firearms in their communities.
Who wins, who loses
who winsIndividuals applying to make or transfer firearms subject to the National Firearms Act.
who losesLocal chief law enforcement officers will lose a source of information about regulated firearms in their communities.
The signal
What happens next
Watch for public comments on this proposed rule, especially from law enforcement organizations, to see if they push back on losing this notification requirement.