The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) released a new 4473 form earlier this month. It includes three changes to the paperwork completed by the purchase/transferee, and several that impact the FFL—including a prescribed method of handling privately made firearms.
Firearm retailers must now use the letters PMF when recording the transfer or acceptance of privately made firearms. The new 4473 announcement states, “Any firearm, received by a FFL, that was privately made (not manufactured by another licensee) must now be recorded on the ATF Form 4473. ‘Privately Made Firearm (PMF)’ has been added to item 1, Section A. It now reads: ‘Manufacturer and Importer, if any or Privately made firearm (PMF) (If the manufacturer and importer are both different, include both).’” There are other changes and FFLs should visit the above-linked web page for full details.
Paperwork has changed slightly for purchasers, as well. Question 10 on the form now asks whether you live within the city limits of the municipality listed in your mailing address. BATFE explains, “For example, if a transferee lists their residence city/state as Phoenix, Arizona but they actually reside outside of the city, they will answer ‘no’ to this item.”
Two questions have been added to Section A, which is also filled out by the transferee. Question 21b asks, “Do you intend to purchase or acquire any firearm listed on this form and any continuation sheet(s) or ammunition, for sale of other disposition to any person described in questions 21(c)-(m) or to a person described in question 21.n.1 who does not fall within a nonimmigrant exception?”
Number 21c is also new. “Do you intend to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm listed on this form and any continuation sheet(s) or ammunition in furtherance of any felony or other offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of more than one year, a Federal crime of terrorism, or a drug trafficking offense?”
BATFE has also modified the definition of firearm business, highlighted in the explanation of question 22 on the web page). It now reads, “A person is engaged in the business of dealing in firearms if he/she devotes time, attention, and labor to dealing in firearms as a regular course of trade or business to predominately earn a profit through the repetitive purchase and resale of firearms.”
BATFE is encouraging FFLs to download the new form from its website and begin use immediately. Hard copies won’t be available from the Bureau’s distribution center until Feb. 1.
