By Jeffrey Folloder
Show Changes and the Challenge of Form Processing
I’ve returned from Kentucky after representing the NFATCA at the bi-annual Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot. Also representing the NFATCA were board members Curt Wolf, Bob Landies and Robert Segel. There have been significant changes for the event that have been evolving for quite some time now. I’d like to brief you on those changes and also what was discussed at our regular Thursday afternoon meeting at “The Creek.”
Knob Creek Format Change
First up is the really big news: Beginning with the spring event, Knob Creek will be morphing into a two-day show. Set-up for vendors will still happen on Thursday. It’s the rest of the show that changes! The show will be open from 9:00am until 9:00pm on Friday and Saturday. There will be a night shoot on both days to help entertain the crowds. Vendors may begin tearing down after 9:00pm on Saturday, or, vendors may choose to come back Sunday morning for tear down. Knob Creek will provide security overnight and through 11:00am on Sunday. Most are viewing this change as being responsive to the changing atmosphere of the event and are eager to see the change be well-received.
Attendance was fairly strong during this fall production. Savvy buyers were snapping up deals on parts kits and accessories. Some machine guns did change hands, as well. There was a gentleman who had a table full of rotary 26.5mm flare launchers that looked like something from a science fiction movie. Those seemed to draw a lot of attention, and I believe he sold all but one or two (he had dozens). The weather was damp and cold. This was actually a good thing! There were no pesky fires started on the mountainsides by tracer fire and no stoppages as a result. The line was hot and rolling, and the crowds seemed to be very much into all the lead going down range. The dust was held down, mostly as a result of the very much appreciated concrete floor installed under the pole barn. The morning invocations went as expected. And the always tongue-in-cheek bake sale to raise funds for the Kentucky Diabetes Network was a success.
NFATCA Current Events
The Thursday meeting held by the NFATCA in the range house reviewed current events on the minds of everyone. Curt Wolf reviewed the proposed changes in administration of ITAR from State Department to Commerce Department. Although not complete, these changes are welcome and needed. However, Curt rightly pointed out that manufacturers of NFA items such as suppressors and machine guns will still be regulated by State, along with the continued need for complicated registration and payment of onerous fees. We will continue to advocate via various avenues for the reduction or elimination of this burdensome regime, especially for those who do not export. I also detailed the challenges currently being experienced by many with forms processing. It is true that Form 1 is back online with the eForms system. It is also true that the NFA Division is still not capable of receiving electronic fingerprints. As a result, using eForms for a Form 1 will require a somewhat complicated “dance” that entails a portion of the process online, a receipt of a cover letter for use with hard copy fingerprints and then mailing in of the fingerprint cards with the cover letter. It is hoped that the NFA Division will be able to fine tune this process and then return Form 4s to the eForms roster in short order. The NFA Examiners appear to have broken the backlog of most of the transfer and making applications. Dealers are reporting Form 3 approvals in terms of days or hours. End user processing is still problematic, though. Some forms have been languishing for a year or more. And some current submissions are dealing with a reported bottleneck at FBI for background check processing. NFATCA has a scheduled meeting with ATF senior management and will obtain more detail on the FBI logjam. The capacity crowd at the meeting in the range house/snack bar was strongly encouraged to make sure to get out and “vote red” in the upcoming election. The reminder should not be necessary, though. As NFA enthusiasts, we should always vote in every election, and we should always make sure that we are voting for candidates that support the Second Amendment. The meeting wrapped up with a complimentary BBQ dinner, provided by Knob Creek proprietors, Kenny & Tracy.
The NFATCA attends many events each year to ensure effective membership outreach. Fall and Spring Knob Creek, SAR West, SHOT Show and the NRA Annual Meeting are always on our roster. If you are attending any of these events, make sure to stop by and say “hi.” We’d love to hear from you. As we pass 15 years of service to the NFA community, we want to thank you for your continued support. If you already are a member, thanks! If you are interested in becoming one, you can sign up at nfatca.org today.
| This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V23N1 (January 2019) |
