PROPOSED RULE
Definition of Frame or Receiver and Identification of Firearms
Posted by the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau on May 21, 2021
Action
Notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comment.
Summary
The Department of Justice (Department) proposes amending Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regulations to provide new regulatory definitions of firearm frame or receiver and frame or receiver because the current regulations fail to capture the full meaning of those terms. The Department also proposes amending ATF's definitions of firearm and gunsmith to clarify the meaning of those terms, and to provide definitions of terms such as complete weapon, complete muffler or silencer device, privately made firearm, and readily for purposes of clarity given advancements in firearms technology. Further, the Department proposes amendments to ATF's regulations on marking and recordkeeping that are necessary to implement these new or amended definitions.
Dates
Written comments must be postmarked and electronic comments must be submitted on or before August 19, 2021. Commenters should be aware that the electronic Federal Docket Management System will not accept comments after Midnight Eastern Time on the last day of the comment period.
Addresses
You may submit comments, identified by docket number ATF 2021R-05, by any of the following methods
Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Andrew Lange, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Enforcement Programs and Services, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 99 New York Ave. NE, Mail Stop 6N-518, Washington, DC 20226; ATTN: ATF 2021R-05.
Fax: (202) 648-9741.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number (ATF 2021R-05) for this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM or proposed rule). All properly completed comments received will be posted without change to the Federal eRulemaking portal, www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the Public Participation heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
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