New ATF Rule on Stabilizing Braces: Update After the ATF Training Seminar for FFL’s

On January 13, 2023, the Attorney General signed ATF final rule 2021R-08F, “Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces” amending ATF’s regulations to clarify when a rifle is “designed, redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder.” This includes a weapon that is equipped with an accessory, component, or other…

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Can I Add a Vertical Fore Grip to My AR-15 Pistol?

We have had several customers ask us about adding a vertical fore grip and a folding stabilizing brace to their AR-15 pistol. Does this configuration transform the AR-15 pistol into an NFA firearm requiring a tax stamp? The short answer is “yes.” The long answer is a little more complicated. Pistols are Not Regulated by…

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You Do Not Need a Separate Bank Account for Your Gun Trust

Some people have the misconception that a firearm to be held in a gun trust must be purchased with money from a trust account. This is a common myth that is simply not true. Our gun trust is designed to hold both NFA firearms that require an ATF tax stamp and non-NFA firearms that do not…

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The Fourth Amendment Protects Owners of NFA Firearms

Many gun owners are under the mistaken belief that a registered owner of NFA firearms, such as a suppressors, short-barreled rifles, or short-barreled shotguns, is subject to unwarranted searches of their residence by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibiting unlawful search and seizure is…

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ATF Plans to Define Bump Stocks as Illegal Machineguns

On March 29, 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking to expand the definition of the term “machinegun” to include all bump-stock-type devices. The bump-stock-type devices covered by this proposed rule would fall within the prohibition on machineguns if this NPRM is implemented. Since virtually all bump stocks…

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The High Cost of Recreational and Medical Marijuana to Firearms Owners

The use or possession of marijuana is illegal under Federal law. However, 29 states and the District of Columbia currently have laws broadly legalizing marijuana in some form. In addition, seven states, Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia have adopted the most expansive laws legalizing marijuana…

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How Can I Take My SBR Out-of-State Legally?

It is illegal for any person, other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to transport any destructive device, machinegun, short-barreled rifle, or short-barreled shotgun across state lines without getting permission from the ATF. 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(4); 27 CFR 478.28. So if you are planning a trip out-of-state and want to take…

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What is the Engraving Requirement for NFA Firearms?

You cannot trust everything you read on the Internet about the engraving requirement for NFA firearms. Some forum discussions have been telling people to engrave all firearms assigned to or bought by their NFA gun trust. This is completely incorrect. Only manufacturers, importers (into the U.S.), and maker of firearms are required to engrave firearms. See 27…

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How Do I Change the Registered Configuration of My Short-Barreled Rifle?

You have filed an ATF Form 1 application make an existing firearm into a short-barreled rifle (SBR). The ATF finally approves your Form 1 application and mails the approval document (the “tax stamp”) to you. Your tax stamp allows you to convert your firearm to the specific configuration of barrel length, overall length, and caliber…

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