A “white paper“, written by the second highest ranking official of the ATF, has been obtained by the Washington Post. The date, official, and reforms mentioned, are all significant. The paper was dated January 20th, 2017, inauguration day.Ronald B. Turk is the author. The paper expresses “the ideas and opinions” of Mr. Turk. From the washingtonpost.com:
The second-highest-ranking official at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has written a proposal to reduce gun regulations, including examining a possible end to the ban on importing assault weapons into the United States.
The “white paper” by Ronald B. Turk, associate deputy director and chief operating officer of the ATF, calls for removing restrictions on the sale of gun silencers; allowing gun dealers to have more guns used in crimes traced to their stores before the federal government requires additional information from the dealer; and initiating a study on lifting the ban on imported assault weapons.
A number of common sense reforms are discussed in the paper. People in the gun culture will recognize many of them as obvious reforms that would have happened long ago, if there were a sympathetic ear in the White House.
Here are short descriptions of the reforms. The long versions are available in the paper itself.
1. FFL license issued for sales at gun shows only, no sales required at physical address. (This removes much of local “veto power” of FFl license issue)
2. Rational review of “armor piercing” ammo for rifles.
3. Re-importation of Certain DOD Surplus Firearms from Foreign Countries. (Garands and MI Carbines, anyone?)
4. Variances on “transfers” of Machine guns for people in DOD industry and Theater industry.
5. Finding the “use” of a firearms arm “Brace” for non-design purposes does put the firearm in the category of SBS or SBR.
6. New Study on Sporting Purposes because of increased sporting use of AK and AR style rifles.
7. Creation of a database of Agency rulings (mostly open to the public).
8. Moving of Silencers from the NFA to the GCA. (Essentially the Hearing Protection Act.)
9. FFLs to be able to sell interstate at gun shows.
10. Destructive device reform for the industry to benefit the DOD.
11. Change in the number of “crime guns” used in Demand Letter (2) from the BATFE.
12. Eliminate Demand Letter (3) (Southwest Assault Rifle Multiple sales).
13. Reconsider pending request to change from 20 year retention of records to indefinite.
14. Expanding NICS check availability for background checks by FFLs for Employees.
15. Need for an ATF Confirmed Director.
16. A list of old regulations to be considered for removal or amendment. (some significant)
As a long term bureaucrat, this white paper reads as an application for the ATF director spot. It is not likely that the current director will stay at the head of the ATF. He has been tied to the white wash of the Fast and Furious fiasco. The paper fairly screams: I am willing to work with you, and I know how to take direction.
I found it fascinating that the comments at the Washington Post, a left wing, establishment paper, were generally favorable.
The gun culture should consider these suggestions as the opening of a round of negotiations on national gun law and regulatory reform.
All of the listed reforms should be considered the minimum that will be acceptable.
With the ATF on board to testify for these reforms, in front of Congressional hearings, how do the Democrats stop them?
President Trump, master negotiator that he is, will have a list of what he “wants” to get done. Those proposals should go far beyond these. As the Donald has written, in The Art of the Deal
“My style of deal-making is quite simple and straightforward,” he writes. “I aim very high, and then I just keep pushing and pushing to get what I’m after. Sometimes I settle for less than I sought, but in most cases I still end up with what I want.”
If this white paper can be considered as the “low end” of what will happen, the gun culture will be very happy with what President Trump delivers.
©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included Link to Gun Watch
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