BATFE Tests of 3D Printed Firearms
There has been buzz among the firearms community for some time now regarding 3D printing, rapid prototyping technology and how it can be used to produce firearms. Much of the fervor was stemmed by the Wiki-Weapon project.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) led a multi-agency working group testing the use of 3-D printing technology in the making of firearms. The test, focusing on the Liberator design, resulted in several videos which were posted to the ATFHQ YouTube Channel.
The Bureau tested the Liberator produced with ABS material with what appears to be successful results: Continue reading
Extended NICS Hours for Black Friday
Worried about long waits at the gun counter when snapping up those smoking Black Friday deals? This recent announcement may help to ease your mind.
The FBI NICS Section has announced extended hours of service on Friday, Nov. 29, 2013 (“Black Friday”), for E-check Users and state Point-of-Contact (POC) Programs. Typically, the NICS is available daily from 8 a.m. until 1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). However, in response to requests to bring NICS into service earlier on “Black Friday” to better accommodate typical business-hour extensions throughout the retail industry and due to a long history of record-breaking volume on this day, the FBI will bring the NICS in-service starting at 4:30 a.m. EST for NICS E-check Users and for state POC Programs. The NICS Contracted Call Centers will open, as normal, at 8 a.m. EST.
For those Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) that do not currently utilize the NICS E-check service and would like to do so prior to NICS Peak Season 2013 or in advance of the earlier-than-normal NICS service hours being provided on “Black Friday,” contact the following for that expeditious, automated firearms background check service: 1-877-324-6427. Select Option 2 for FFL Customer Service and then option 5 for E-Check enrollment. Continue reading
ATF Releases Lost and Stolen Firearms Report
ATF Release:
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced the release of the 2012 Lost and Stolen Firearms Report. This annual report is published to increase transparency and information sharing among the law enforcement community and to promote a better understanding of the dangers of lost and stolen firearms. This report is part of President Obama’s comprehensive plan to reduce gun violence.
Lost and stolen firearms pose a substantial threat to public safety and to law enforcement. Individuals that steal firearms are more likely to commit violent crimes with stolen guns, transfer stolen firearms to others who commit crimes, and create an unregulated secondary market for firearms, including a market for those who are prohibited by law from possessing a gun. Continue reading
ATF Publishes Updated Firearms and Commerce Report
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) today released the Firearms Commerce in the United States 2013 report, which contains information about domestic firearms manufacturing, as well as the importation and exportation of firearms. The report contains the most up-to-date information available about the firearms industry and ATF’s regulatory activities including firearms entering commerce and statistical data.
“The information in this report provides insight for the general public on the number of firearms reported as manufactured and imported in the United States annually,” said ATF Assistant Director, Office of Enforcement Programs and Services, Arthur Herbert. “The report also provides statistical information about ATF’s regulatory and enforcement initiatives.”
The 2013 update reports more than 6.5 million firearms were manufactured in 2011(the latest year available) and more than 4.8 million firearms were imported into the United States in 2012. In addition, more than 1 million National Firearms Act (NFA) transfers were processed by ATF in 2012, and there are currently more than 3.5 million NFA firearms registered. The number of federal firearms licensees (FFLs) increased from 123,587 in 2011 to 130,956 in 2012. This reflects a 6 percent increase in one year.
ATF continuously develops and strengthens its collaborative efforts with members of the firearms industry and consumers through education and outreach to prevent the diversion of firearms through illegal markets. This report provides one-stop shopping for those having an interest in firearms industry data.
To view the Firearms Commerce in the United States 2013 report visit https://www.atf.gov/sites/default/files/assets/pdf-files/052013-firearms-commerce-in-the-us-annual-update.pdf
BATFE to Accept Comments on Armor Piercing Ammo Through End of Year
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has posted a notification on their website soliciting comments regarding requests to exempt certain projectiles from regulation as “armor piercing ammunition.”
The posting states that ATF is “seeking public comments on specific projectiles or projectile cores which may be used in a handgun and which are constructed entirely from one or a combination of tungsten, alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium, copper, or depleted uranium, and whether these projectiles or projectile cores pose a threat to public safety and law enforcement, or are, ‘primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes” and therefore may be exempted from classification as “armor piercing ammunition.’” Continue reading
NSSF Matches ATF Reward in NY, SC Firearms Theft Cases
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, is once again offering its resources in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) to help bring criminals to justice in a pair of firearms thefts. NSSF has offered a reward of up to $5,000 – matching the reward offered by BATFE – for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the theft of firearms in New York and South Carolina.
The first theft involved the theft of 10 firearms during a November 1, 2012, burglary at the Guns and Gold Trading Post in North Charleston, SC. According to the ATF release, three individuals crashed their vehicle through the storefront before absconding with the firearms.
The second, presumably unrelated, incident occurred on November 24, when thieves made off with 62 firearms from Tom’s Guns and Ammo in Sodus, NY. The ATF release may be found here.
ATF and local law enforcement are investigating the thefts in both cases and are seeking information from the public that would lead to the resolution of these investigations.
The matching reward payment by NSSF will be granted following payment of the initial ATF reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the crime.
Any information regarding this burglary should be reported to the ATF hotline at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867). The ATF hotline is toll-free, and all information will be treated confidentially. Callers will remain anonymous upon request.
About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 7,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.
