DOJ & ATF Drop 34-Rule Reform Package
DOJ and ATF released 34 notices of proposed and final rulemaking — described by newly-confirmed ATF Director Robert Cekada as the most significant modernization of ATF regulations in agency history. The package follows Executive Order 14206 and is the first in a planned series. Most proposals carry a 90-day public comment period.
What it means for NFA & Form 1 filers
- CLEO notification removed. No more forwarding NFA application copies to your local Chief Law Enforcement Officer — a friction point that's tripped up Form 1 makers for decades.
- Spouse joint applications. Married couples can file jointly as makers / transferees without setting up a gun trust just to share the item.
Other key items in the package
- Pistol brace rule repealed. The 2023 rule that re-classified brace-equipped pistols as short-barreled rifles is being rolled back.
- "Engaged in the business" rule repealed. The 2024 rule that swept many private sellers into FFL territory is being undone.
- FOPA travel protections clarified. Refueling, vehicle maintenance, stopping to eat, and overnight stops are explicitly protected during interstate transport.
- "Mental defective" definition refined. Needing assistance in only one functional area (e.g., financial management) won't, by itself, create a federal prohibition.
- Sporting purposes revisions pending. ATF flagged upcoming changes to the GCA "sporting purposes" framework for rifle classification.
Read the official ATF press release →
Most items above are proposed rules — they are not yet in effect. Public comment periods generally run 90 days and individual effective dates will vary. We'll update this page as items are finalized.