Under 18 USC 922, ATF requires that a
person purchasing a firearm from a Federal firearms licensee
complete ATF Form 4473. The form is used to determine the
eligibility (under the Gun Control Act) of a person to receive a
firearm from a Federal firearms licensee and to establish the
identity of the buyer.
Emergency Request for
Approval of Collection of Information The Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) forwards this request for
emergency approval of the collection of information associated with
the ATF Form 4473 (5300.9). This emergency review has been
requested in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 3507(j)), because public harm is reasonably likely to
result if normal clearance procedures are followed. ATF is making
conforming changes to ATF Form 4473 in order for it to be
consistent with the Departments recent legal conclusions
concerning the proper scope of prohibitions and requirements in the
Gun Control Act. First, based on an opinion of the Departments
Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), dated October 28, 2011, the
Department has concluded that the statutory prohibitions in 18
U.S.C. 922(g)(5)(B) on transfer and possession of firearms apply
only to nonimmigrant aliens admitted to the United States under a
nonimmigrant visa, and do not apply to nonimmigrant aliens whose
lawful presence in the United States did not require a visa.
Appropriate changes have been made to Form 4473 to conform to OLCs
opinion. Second, the Department has also concluded that, under the
language of the Gun Control Act, aliens lawfully present in the
United States may not be subject to state residency requirements
that are different from those that apply to U.S. citizens.
Accordingly, ATF Form 4473 is being revised to strike an
instruction on the form requiring aliens to establish residency in
a State continuously for a period of at least 90 days prior to
acquiring a firearm from a Federal firearms licensee, a requirement
that does not apply to U.S. citizens. Immediate revisions to Form
4473 are necessary to conform with the law. If normal clearance
procedures are followed, the Department believes there will be
widespread confusion among Federal firearms licensees, as well as
among aliens lawfully present in the United States who wish to
purchase a firearm, about a process that if not performed correctly
can result in the imposition of civil or criminal sanctions .
Publication of the Federal Register notice advising the public of
the emergency request will acquaint licensees and aliens with the
Departments legal positions. Delaying implementation of the new
interpretation during a three to six month notice and comment
period will generate many questions about which position licensees
should follow. Immediate implementation is therefore required.
The estimated number of
respondents (112,073) and corresponding annual burden hours
(56,037) approved under this control number in 2008 were
significantly inaccurate due to an underestimation of the number of
respondents; the burden estimate per respondent was accurate and is
not being changed,but the number of respondents is being changed.
Based upon recent statistics concerning firearms transactions
involving a federal background check, ATF now estimates there are
14,409,616 respondents each year
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.