There’s finally been movement from the ATF. For the first time since the recent NFA ruling, ATF Director Robert Cekada has spoken publicly, and gun owners may find his comments encouraging.
Gun owners in Idaho, like everywhere else, have been debating the ruling that struck down a major portion of the NFA. Some Idaho gun shops have already begun selling suppressors without a Form 4, while others are still waiting for official guidance from the ATF.
Rumors online claimed the ATF was furious and preparing to “go rogue” against gun owners. Given the agency’s long history of rewriting rules, targeting lawful gun owners, and harassing gun shops, it’s no surprise many people expected retaliation.
But Director Cekada’s statement pushed back on that narrative. He wrote:
“UPDATE>Jensen v. ATF
FACTS> CLICKBAIT.There’s a lot of misinformation circulating about the recent NDTX ruling in Jensen v. ATF; including a headline claiming, “ATF is Furious and We Are Planning Brutal Revenge on Gun Owners.”
The source? You guessed it: unnamed anonymous sources. It’s completely FALSE.
**More importantly – ATF respects the Court’s ruling and the rule of law. We are following the order and will not take enforcement action against protected parties inconsistent with that ruling. We are working diligently on clear guidance. Getting it RIGHT matters more than getting it out fast.
That means carefully navigating federal and state laws so that manufacturers, FFLs, and law-abiding gun owners aren’t left with legal problems – today or under a future administration.
Thank you for your patience as we focus on developing the guidance. It will be posted online as soon as we are done. The American public and the 2A community deserve facts NOT clickbait.”
This is welcome news, but the slow pace is frustrating. The ATF has had weeks to produce what should be straightforward guidance for gun shops and gun owners.
Firearms Policy Coalition echoed that frustration, saying:
“We continue to await answers to the reasonable questions in the letter our attorneys sent over 2 weeks ago (that DOJ still hasn’t even replied to). The American public and the 2A community deserve timely answers NOT delays.”
Gun Owners of America added:
“Thank you for the update, but please move faster. A right delayed is a right denied!”
Cekada’s post should give some comfort to gun owners who have already purchased suppressors without a Form 4. Still, the lack of timely guidance is unacceptable. The ATF knew this ruling was a possibility and should have had draft guidance ready the moment the decision dropped.
But it’s the federal government, so delays are, unfortunately, par for the course.