NFATCA REPORT: THE NFATCA HANDBOOK GETS ITS FIRST FACELIFT

By John Brown

This time a year ago everyone was celebrating the introduction of the NFA Handbook and a two year wait was finally over. During the last year we have slowly gathered revisions and made updates to the handbook and we wanted to take the time to review the new updates and provide the NFA community with news concerning upcoming events. As we approach the end of ’08, the NFATCA is already planning ’09 and working on new issues that we want to share with the entire community as we move forward.

Before we look at the specifics of the updates we want to make certain that everyone knows how to obtain these revisions and get them into their handbooks. At any show where the handbooks are sold you will be able to purchase the insert for a nominal fee and follow the directions in getting them into your existing handbook. Everything is color coded so you can easily find and read the new revisions for the new information. You will notice in the package that your table of contents has also been updated and the appropriate pages should be replaced. Updates or a new version of the complete NFA handbook can also be purchased off the NFATCA website at www.nfatca.org. In addition to the availability through major guns shows and our web site, the full PDF version of the document may be downloaded through the ATF web site.

For the first update to the handbook you can look for the following changes to the information:

• All new versions of Forms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 5330.20, 5320.20 and 5630.7 representing the change in address information for future use.
• Modifications to section 9.12 addressing the Brady requirements when a suppressor is permanently attached to a rifle or pistol.
• Modifications to 9.14 and additional information on a Form 10 and how this may or may not have an impact on the restriction of an NFA item.
• The first addition of information on trusts and corporate transfers. Please note that this information will be given a lot more attention in the next update.
• Modifications to the language providing further clarification on 9.8 U.S. Government Owned Firearms.
• Modifications to 13.7 Reporting Information in response to ATF Trace requirements.
• Modification to 15.2.1 concerning clarification of the criminal penalties language.
• Modifications to 1.6 with updates to provide new information on new telephone numbers and contact information on the Firearms Technology Branch (FTB), The Licensing Center, The National Firearms Act (NFA) Branch, and the Firearms and Explosives Imports Branch.
• Additions of 10.1.5 and 10.1.5.1 dealing with additional information on dewats and reactivation of dewats.
• Addition of new information concerning how to correspond with the NFA and FTB branches of the BATFE.

Based on the information that we have received from the industry and with work in progress with ATF, these are the first major changes that we are providing in this first update. In addition, we are already working up new sections for the handbook that will include a lot of good information on how to fill out all types of Forms and a comprehensive set of instructions on how to complete Forms using a corporation or a trust. Other critical information concerning letters to support Post Sample requests and other great sources of information are already planned for the next release.

We are also pleased to let everyone know that thanks to the efforts of Rick Vasquez, Assistant Chief, Firearms Technology Branch, the first and second chapters of the FTB Procedures manual are completed and are under review by both NFATCA council and ATF council. This next publication represents a monumental undertaking and will be the next major publication available to the NFA community.

So we move forward with more information and a growing relationship with ATF to support the future of all NFA owners. As we grow, so do the requirements for our time and our money. It is a growing membership that makes us stronger and is critical to our continued success. Come join us to strengthen the NFA community and work toward a common cause in protecting your rights and those of our sons and daughters. Always remember: “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”

Visit us today at any major gun show or at WWW.NFATCA.ORG and join our efforts to build a better relationship with the entire NFA community, both civilian and government.