ATF Rule Changes Could Roll Back Years of Gun Control — And Open the Door for Collectors

The ATF is proposing easing the restrictions on old Soviet countries.

What was announced by the ATF today isn’t just regulatory cleanup. It’s one of the most significant pro–Second Amendment shifts in years. In shocking turn of events the ATF released a string of changes coming for gun owners across the United States.

A sweeping list of proposed and ongoing changes at the federal level could dramatically reshape how firearms are regulated in the United States. These updates touch everything from:

• ATF rules

• NFA regulations

• Dealer requirements

• Firearm imports

• Definitions that have been weaponized against gun owners

In shocking twist of events from one of the biggest thorns in gun owners sides, the ATF, they are moving these regulations in the right direction. Let’s break this down.

One of the biggest pieces from this regulatory rollback is that most Biden-era polices like pistol brace rule, revision of the “engaged in the business” rule, and the machine gun definition are wiped out. The last one as it pertains to machine guns, is being done in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Cargill.

These changes alone would undo some of the most aggressive recent ATF expansions of regulatory power. The list, however, does not stop there. There is more positive news for gun owners.

Another proposed fix is fixing the paperwork trap in the from 4473. The ATF would allow for more electronic options and extend how long your NICS checks remain valid. Another change here would allow FFLs to maintain electronic records.

For us FFLs one of the biggest changes would come from removing the indefinite record retention requirement back to the 20 year one we had before 2022. This creates less red tape, fewer technical violations, and more clarity for all involved.

In a huge overhaul, especially in the year with no NFA tax stamp on some items, the ATF is proposing some major overhauls. First, they want to end the CLEO (Chief Law enforcement Officer) notification requirements. Another major change is allowing joint registration for married couples of NFA items so one would not have to do a NFA Trust.

For the home builders upgrading existing items into NFA firearms, the ATF wants to remove the engraving. Another win for NFA owners is them eliminating transport approval requirements for most trips as long as they are less than 365 days. That means we can travel freely with our items when we travel.

All of these changes would be huge wins for us gun owners, especially at a time when so many new people are entering the NFA world. This will help increase the exercising of gun rights and remove longstanding barriers to NFA ownership further degrading the unconstitutional gun law.

Another huge proposal from the ATF is strengthening the Firearm Owners Protection Ave (FOPA) protection for gun owners during travel. This was designed to protect us lawful gun owners while traveling through anti-gun states. They want to clarify what counts as “reasonable activities” which ultimately will help protect gun owners crossing state lines.

For us gun shops there is some much-needed help on the way. Defining “willfully” in firearm violations. This will help define what constitutes a “straw purchase” and the rules around it. They will also fix mental health disqualifier language to help create less ambiguity means fewer people accidentally becoming criminals.

Perhaps, out of all of these changes, the thing that excites us most are when it comes to firearm imports. The ATF is proposing removing the restrictions on imports from former Soviet bloc countries (except Russia). That means firearms, parts, receivers, and barrels that were previously blocked could now enter the U.S. market again.

For collectors and enthusiasts, this is huge. This will be one of the biggest shifts in firearm imports in recent memory. We’re talking about potential access to thousands of different historic Cold War-era firearms. There is likely surplus rifles and pistols left over from previous wars in these countries as well.

For shops like us here at 2 If By Sea Tactical that are a manufacturer, there will be thousands of parts kits and original components and hard-to-find barrels. This will allow us to manufacture historic firearms for your pleasure that were otherwise unobtainable.

Once these are fully implemented fully, this could mean increased supply of surplus and collectible firearms. The hope is lower prices due to availability on certain collector items. For the firearms community, a return to preserving history—not just restricting it.

The hope is this shift signals something bigger. A change from ever expanding federal authority to limiting it. If we can make these changes stick, ATF discretion gets narrower and gun owner protections get stronger.

What Comes Next

Not all of these changes are yet final. We will face political pushback on many of these items. We certainly will see several of these challenges in court. Many of these will require formal rulemaking. The nice thing is it does set a clear direction for the agency.

This is not a small tweak to the ATF’s handling of firearms. This is a major structural overhaul like we have never seen before. From pistol braces to NFA reform to import rules, this is a major internal cultural. It is one of the most pro-gun regulatory shifts in years.

Here at 2 If By Sea Tactical we strive to bring you the best experience in the firearms world.  As we continue to grow the media arm of 2 If By Sea, make sure you keep tuning in to our Youtube and Rumble channels and right here at “The Patriot’s Almanac” to stay informed on the latest happenings in the firearm world! But we are not lawyers, so this isn't legal guidance. We are proud to be Southern Minnesota source for all things 2A.

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