NRA ShowNFA Questions AnsweredAnnual Meeting Proves “A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand”

By JEFF FOLLODER

This column was written in early May, just a few days after the end of a contentious NRA Annual Meeting held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Once again, the NRA hosted a record crowd that attends meetings, seminars, fundraising events and 15 acres of displays and exhibits. The NFATCA had its usual exhibit space on the show floor, and we were thrilled to see so many of you who chose to stop by and say hello, sign up or renew membership or ask questions about the NFA world. The fellowship and interaction were great. The general mood of contention was not quite so much. More on that later.

Let’s knock out some of the more common questions that we always seem to get at shows like this. Most of the readers of this column already know the answers, but it would help if we all spread those right answers. So many people are operating under misconceptions. Here’s a few: • Buying an NFA weapon gives ATF permission to come and inspect me at any time. No way! No, it does not. You are not giving up any Fourth Amendment rights by owning NFA weapons. There’s no midnight door kicking or peril for your pets.

• My sheriff will never sign off on my purchase. Sign offs are no longer needed for any federal NFA purchase. It’s a simple notification that requires no action or approval. Some states still have a sign-off requirement, so it is best to check before you spend your money.
• I’ll need to renew my Class 3 license every year. There is no such thing as a Class 3 license for non-FFL ownership of NFA weapons. You pay for your tax stamp one time, and you are done.
• I’m an FFL and ATF requires that I have all weapons delivered to my premises address listed on my license. Not true. Neither the Gun Control Act (GCA) nor its implementing regulations require firearms be shipped only to the licensed business premises. Therefore, a licensee may lawfully receive firearms at the licensee’s mailing address, storage location or other address where the licensee intends to ensure safe and secure receipt of the firearms.
• I’ve got these unregistered NFA guns from way back in the day. I’ll just give them to an NFA manufacturer to mark and register. No, that’s not possible. Unregistered NFA items are considered to be contraband, and it is not permissible for an individual or a licensee to register the unregisterable.
• I’ve got a state-issued medical marijuana card, and I can still buy/own firearms, right? Not so much. Marijuana is still illegal at the federal level and having a state card does not alleviate the federal criminality. Further, a licensee who sees such a card has gained enough knowledge to be required to deny a firearm sale.
• How do I take a short-barreled weapon off of the registry (NFRTR)? Although there is no duty to notify the NFA Division about a weapon that is no longer permanently configured as an SBR or SBS, one may send the NFA Division a notice that the item is no longer under the purview of the NFA and request a confirmation of receipt of notice. There is no refund of the tax stamp!

NRA Annual Meeting

Patience is required when dealing with the public and what people think is correct. Patience is also required when factions square off against each other in a public venue. Such was the case in Indianapolis at the NRA Annual Meeting. The NRA is the largest firearms-focused advocacy organization in the United States. It is not the gun industry lobby, despite what the mainstream media would have you believe. Being the largest organization, it is also the target of every pro-gun entity that wishes to diminish our Second Amendment rights. Unfortunately, it is also the target of many of those within our community, especially those who wish to exert their own brand of advocacy above all others. We are now in the midst of pointing fingers, yelling and screaming at each other and, generally, bickering like an estranged family at a forced, family get together on Thanksgiving. Yes, the NRA has some problems that need to be dealt with (and they are being dealt with). Yes, we need a coordinated response to those who stand against us. But we also need to recognize that we cannot stand against ourselves. Abraham Lincoln famously paraphrased the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Matthew when he intoned, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”