Today is a day of redemption of sorts with the Trump ATF finally rolling back and/or revising egregious Biden-era rulings which were openly against gun owners. There are a total of 34 ruling announcements, the full details of which have not been published. Some of the rulings are final but not all. Rather than breaking down the entire list, I thought I’d tackle the ones that seem to affect most of us that aren’t FFLs.
The rulings are divided into several categories:
– Repeal
– Modernize
– Reduce Burden
– Clarify
– Align
Repeal
11P: Removing Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached “Stabilizing Braces” NPRM
This ruling addresses the definition in 27 CFR 478.11 and 479.11 referencing the use of a brace.
“designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder” shall include a weapon that is equipped with an accessory, component, or other rearward attachment (e.g., a “stabilizing brace”) that provides surface area that allows the weapon to be fired from the shoulder,
With luck, this will end the debate over braces once and for all. We know that the ATF recently left things ambiguous when they said that despite court rulings they could charge people for having a brace.
2024-01F: Revising Machine Gun Definition in Response to Supreme Court Decision – FINAL RULE
This is specifically addressing bump stock and, should, also include forced reset triggers (FRT). The definition of a machine gun is that it fires multiple rounds with the single pull of the trigger. Neither of these devices do this and the weapons are still completely semi-automatic with a discrete trigger pull for each round fired.
Modernize
This section is mostly geared towards FFLs but does include changes to the 4473. I was going to skip it, but there’s some good news here.
1140-AA82: Revising Firearms Transaction Record, “Form 4473” – NPRM
The proposed rule would streamline identity and residency verification requirements for transferees; increase the time period for which a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) background check remains valid; clarify exceptions to background checks; permit electronic notice; and authorize the use of electronic forms, auto-population, and digital record attachments.
The other rulings in this area really focus on records retention and FFL-to-FFL transfers.
Reduce Burden
This section definitely has some good news for those with NFA items. Having entered that world myself with several Form 1s on tap, it’s of particular interest to me.
1140-AA89: Interstate Transport and Temporary Export of National Firearms Act – NPRM
Currently, if you travel with a NFA item, you have to notify the ATF. Form 5320.20 must be submitted prior to travel and can be done for up to 365 days. Note that this doesn’t apply to suppressors. With this ruling change, you no longer have to request approval for trips less than 365 days. The ruling is now only for trips longer than 365 days or permanent relocation. The key, though, is that you would not need to await ATF approval before transporting.
1140-AB00: Joint Registration for Spouses under the National Firearms Act – NPRM
This proposal would allow married couples to file a joint application as makers and/or transferees of NFA-regulated firearms. Today, this would require the establishment of a trust.
1140-AA65: Removing CLEO Notification Under the National Firearms Act – NPRM
This proposal makes it unnecessary to include CLEO notification for your NFA items.
1140-AA73: Clarifying Interstate Transportation of Firearms under the Gun Control Act – NPRM
The proposed rule formally recognizes that common, reasonably necessary activities during travel – including overnight stops, vehicle maintenance, refueling, emergency stops, and medical treatments – are considered as a necessary part of “transport,” and are therefore covered under the Firearms Owners’ Protection Act’s interstate transport protections. The proposed rule also updates requirements for transporting ammunition and firearm accessories and clarifies requirements for securing firearms during transit.
Clarify
This section actually houses the bulk of the changes, but I’m going to skip it since most are edge cases for the majority of gun owners.
Align
Like the Clarify section, this is mostly edge cases. 1140-AA79 does involve background checks through NICS but the section is centered on aligning the legislative verbiage with current practices. As a case in point:
1140-AA83: Changes to National Firearms Act Tax Remittance Provisions – FINAL RULE
This ruling amends the NFA regulation to drop the $200 tax stamp as outlined in the One Big Beautiful Act which went into effect in January 2026.
Closing
Overall, these are positive changes. In light of recent events with this occurring just four days following a third assassination attempt on Pres. Trump at the White House Correspondents Dinner. In related news, Acting ATF Director Robert Cekada was confirmed. Today, he and the Trump administration appear to be pro-2A. I don’t think any of us truly expect the NFA registry to dissolve among other desires which align with “shall not be infringed”. Once the government has its claws in things, it seldom pulls them free. But this is a good start.
“We’re not here trying to burden unnecessarily the American citizen, who has the complete right to exercise their Second Amendment right to bear arms, and we will not be doing that in the future if I am so confirmed.”
– Robert Cekada
- A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is a formal public notice issued by U.S. federal agencies
