WASHINGTON –U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) introduced the  ATF Accountability Act, which would provide transparency to gun owners across America on rules made by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF engages in a secretive classification review process where the agency decides whether a particular firearm is regulated by the National Firearms Act and refuses to make final public rules regarding classification. The ATF’s lack of transparency creates significant uncertainty for both gun-owning Americans and firearm manufacturers.

“The ATF’s ability to designate firearms behind closed doors puts law abiding gun owners and firearms manufacturers in a difficult and sometimes impossible situation,”  said Risch. “The  ATF Accountability Act will stop the agency’s secretive classification process, create accountability, and empower gun owners and manufacturers to appeal rulings.”

“Increasing transparent review and an appeals process for rulings and determinations made by the ATF would ensure that firearms manufacturers and lawful gun owners are not subject to unchecked bureaucratic rulings," said Crapo. "Burdening law-abiding citizens of this country with additional gun restrictions is not the answer to safeguarding the public.” 

“American gun owners and manufacturers have been left in the dark for far too long with closed-door rule changes by the ATF,”  said Braun. “Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights shouldn’t be the last to know the classification status of firearms, or what licenses or tax stamps they need to avoid running afoul of the law. The ATF needs accountability and transparency, which this bill accomplishes.” 

The  ATF Accountability Act:  

• Creates an appeals process following a ruling by ATF with specific regular timeframes; and
• Permits gun manufacturers to appeal the legal status or classification of any product by filing with the Director of Industry Operations with jurisdiction. After which, the appeal is directed to an administrative law judge.

Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-S.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) cosponsored the legislation.