Data / Federal rules / 2026-08919
Revising Regulations Defining “Engaged in the Business” as a Dealer in Firearms
The Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau published this proposed rule in the Federal Register on May 6, 2026. Comments closed on August 4, 2026.
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What the agency says
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") is proposing to revise regulations implementing the "engaged in the business" definition from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act ("BSCA"). Although Congress defined that term in BSCA, the Department of Justice ("Department") provided additional definitions in its implementing regulations to further define terms within the statutory definition and to include examples of covered activities that established rebuttable presumptions of being engaged in the business of dealing in firearms. This rule proposes to remove those changes. ATF has determined that the changes have not shown the expected impact on federal firearms licensee applications, administrative licensing actions, civil forfeitures, or other anticipated effects.
Key facts
- Document number
- 2026-08919
- Type
- Proposed rule
- Action
- Notice of proposed rulemaking
- Agency
- Justice Department; Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau
- Published
- May 6, 2026
- Comments due
- August 4, 2026
- Dates
- Comments must be submitted in writing, and must be submitted on or before (or, if mailed, must be postmarked on or before) August 4, 2026. Commenters should be aware that the federal e-rulemaking portal comment system will not accept comments after midnight Eastern Time on the last day of the comment period.
- Docket
- Docket No. ATF-2026-0074; ATF 2025R-27P
- Regulation ID (RIN)
- 1140-AB01
- Code of Federal Regulations
- 27 CFR 478
- Topics
- Administrative practice and procedure; Arms and munitions; Exports; Freight; Imports; Intergovernmental relations; Law enforcement officers; Military personnel; Penalties; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Research; Seizures and forfeitures; Transportation
- Pages
- 13
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|---|---|---|
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| Explosives Magazine Safety Requirements 2026-19691 | Proposed rule | Sep 25 |
| Application for Relief From Disabilities Imposed by Federal Laws With Respect to the Acquisition, Receipt, Transfer, Shipment, Transportation, or Possession of Firearms 2026-16981 · significant | Final rule | Aug 20 |
| Fingerprint and Photograph Requirements for Firearms Applications 2026-13587 | Proposed rule | Jul 6 |
| Registering NFA Firearms That Fall Out of Government Contract 2026-13586 | Proposed rule | Jul 6 |
| Licensee “eZ Check” Verification for Transfers; Withdrawing Direct Final Rule 2026-13585 | Final rule | Jul 6 |
Everything from the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau · Rules on administrative practice and procedure · Rules on arms and munitions · Rules on exports · Published in May 2026
Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.