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U.S. Department of Justice
















March 22, 2022

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Office of Enforcement Programs and Services Office of Field Operations
Washington, DC 20226 www.atf.gov
OPEN LETTER TO ALL FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSEES

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recently examined devices commonly
known as "forced reset triggers" (FRTs) and has determined that some of them are "firearms" and
"machineguns" as defined in the National Firearms Act (NFA), and "machineguns" as defined in the
Gun Control Act (GCA).

These particular FRTs are being marketed as replacement triggers for AR-type firearms. Unlike
traditional triggers and binary triggers (sometimes referred to generally as "FRTs"), the subject
FRTs do not require shooters to pull and then subsequently release the trigger to fire a second
shot. Instead, these FRTs utilize the firing cycle to eliminate the need for the shooter to
release the trigger before a second shot is fired. By contrast, some after-market triggers have
similar components but also incorporate a disconnector or similar feature to ensure that the
trigger must be released before a second shot may be fired and may not be machineguns.

Both the NFA and GCA regulate machineguns. "Machinegun" is defined under 26 U.S.C.
§ 5845(b) and 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(23) as—

Any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically
more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The term shall
also include the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part designed and intended solely and
exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a
machinegun, and any combination of parts from which a machinegun can be assembled if such parts are
in the possession or under the control of a person. (Emphasis added.)

ATF's examination found that some FRT devices allow a firearm to automatically expel more than one
shot with a single, continuous pull of the trigger. For this reason, ATF has concluded that FRTs
that function in this way are a combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a
weapon into a machinegun, and hence, ATF has classified these devices as a "machinegun" as defined
by the NFA and GCA.

Accordingly, ATF's position is that any FRT that allows a firearm to automatically expel more than
one shot with a single, continuous pull of the trigger is a "machinegun", and is accordingly
subject to the GCA prohibitions regarding the possession, transfer, and transport of machineguns




OPEN LETTER TO ALL FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSEES (cont.)


under 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(o) and 922(a)(4). They are also subject to registration, transfer,
taxation, and possession restrictions under the NFA. See 26 U.S.C. §§ 5841, 5861; 27 CFR 479.101.

Under 26 U.S.C. § 5871, any person who violates or fails to comply with the provisions of the NFA
may be fined up to $10,000 per violation and is subject to imprisonment for a term of up to ten
years. Further, pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 5872, any machinegun possessed or transferred in violation
of the NFA is subject to seizure and forfeiture. Under 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(2), any person who
violates § 922(o) may be sent to prison for up to 10 years and fined up to $250,000 per person or
$500,000 per organization.

Based on ATF's determination that the FRTs that function as described above are "machineguns" under
the NFA and GCA, ATF intends to take appropriate remedial action with respect to sellers and
possessors of these devices. Current possessors of these devices are encouraged to contact ATF for
further guidance on how they may divest possession. If you are uncertain whether the device you
possess is a machinegun as defined by the GCA and NFA, please contact your local ATF Field Office.
You may consult the local ATF Office's webpage for office contact information.




More Bad news . This was sent in PDF format so i had to get creative copy and pasting . I am RP for an FFL and received this news Thursday morning . I waited to post because the Washington Gun Law guy made a video on this topic . Posting that as well . Stay Safe All , we are in turbulent times Indeed .

 
atf is blatantly violating its role as law enforcement, not law legislation. illegal rulings by them must be defied on principle
From what the Washington Gun Law You Tube page is saying . Just wait till we all hear the new Revised defintions of pistol Ars and Aks . The rumor is they will now be SBR and subject to NFA . June and then August are keynote months . It could happen sooner . I recommend you browse all videos on that guys page . Video titled : When is the ATF coming after your AR pistol or lower receiver .. Agreed everything they are implementing is total BS . They can bankrupt everyone of us in court filings sadly and destroy lives . I have seen now at least 12 public cases of confiscation going on now and no 1 is lining up to help their fellow American . We are virtually on our own . Get Insurance for legal reasons is the only advice I can give and never store all your freedom in 1 basket :s0003:
 
atf is blatantly violating its role as law enforcement, not law legislation. illegal rulings by them must be defied on principle
The atf is not law enforcement, nor do they hold any shred of authority to change laws. They got around this by just changing definitions. I don't think anyone has the authority to change definitions. Atf are a bunch of nobody's that would gladly shoot you and your dog and anyone that disagrees with them.
 

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