1140-0007 Form 6A Justification (10-2014)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES

Supporting Statement

1140-0007

Release and Receipt of Imported Firearms, Ammunition and Implements of War

ATF F 6A (5330.3C)

1. Justification

1. Under 18 U.S.C. 925(a), 22 U.S.C. 2778, and 26 U.S.C. 5844, the importation of firearms, ammunition and defense articles into the United States is restricted. The importation of articles coming within the purview of these statutes is prohibited. The statutes also require that persons engaged in the business of importing such articles be licensed and/or registered. Implementing regulations in 27 CFR Parts, 447, 478, and 479 prescribe the forms and procedures necessary to fulfill the import permit requirements. Through these requirements, the law and regulations establish a comprehensive system for regulating the importation of firearms, ammunition, and defense articles.

The Form 6A has been changed. The changes include:

1) In Block 9G, removed the gray shading in the Model section of Implements of War.

2) In Block 9G, add two new columns between “Quantity (9e)” and “United States Munitions Import List Category (9f)”. The first column will be “Barrel Length” and the second column will be “Overall Length”. Adjust the designations as follows: Name of Manufacturer “a”, Number and Kind of Packages “b”, Type “c”, Caliber Gauge or Size “d”, Quantity “e”, Barrel Length “f”, Overall Length “g”, U.S. Munitions Import List Category “h”, Model “i” and Serial Number “j”.

3) In Block 9 at the top, add instruction “(For ammunition, circle the appropriate type: Ball, Incendiary, Wadcutter, Shot, Armor Piercing-(AP), or Tracer)”.

2. The data provided by this information collection request are used by the Bureau to determine if articles imported meet the statutory and regulatory criteria for importation and if the articles shown on the permit application have actually been imported. The Release and Receipt of Imported Firearms, Ammunition and Implements of War, ATF F 6A (5330.3C) serves as the certification of release and receipt of the articles described on the permit application. The form is used by Federally licensed and/or registered importers, Federal firearms licensees other than importers, members of the U.S. Armed Forces and persons not licensed by or registered with ATF.

3. ATF F 6A (5330.3C) is available on the ATF website and can be submitted electronically to ATF via Eforms (www.atfonline.gov). The respondent must present this form to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with an original signature and the CBP official should complete Section II of this form and certify with an original signature if he is satisfied that the shipment of firearms(s), ammunition, and/or implements of war was authorized by the Director, ATF. CBP will then mail this copy back to ATF. The importer’s copy that is manually generated must be mailed back to ATF. ATF regulations require that the Form 6A be filed in duplicate.  One copy is left with CBP, they complete Section II and forward the form to ATF.  This provides ATF with notification that the defense articles have entered in the US.  Within 15 days of release from CBP custody, the licensed and/or registered importer is required to examine the shipment, complete Section III as appropriate, attach any serial number as required and forward the form to ATF.  CBP does not necessarily examine the actual shipment – their notification is merely that the articles have come into the US.  The licensed/registered importer is required to examine the shipment, notify ATF of any discrepancies (so our records will note it), and report the serial numbers as applicable.

4. ATF uses a subject classification system to identify duplication and to ensure that any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purpose of this information collection.

5. This information collection has no impact on small businesses.

6. The consequences of discontinuing the requirement for ATF F 6A are that licensed importers, dealers, and military personnel would be unable to import firearms, ammunition, and implements of war as allowed by statute. Shipments would be detained by CBP resulting in unnecessary expense to the industry. Less frequent collection of this information would substantially increase the potential possibility for the illegal introduction into domestic commerce of firearms, ammunition, and implements of war. This would pose a threat to public safety by exacerbating crime and violence and undermining the declared law enforcement, foreign policy, and revenue purposes of 18 U.S.C. 925(a), 22 U.S.C. 2778, and 26 U.S.C. 5844.

7. This information collection is conducted in a manner consistent with the guidelines of 5 CFR 1320.6.

8. This information collection is mandatory by law however ATF did consult with CBP in the development of this form. A 60-day and 30-day notice was published in the Federal Register in order to solicit comments from the public. No comments were received.

9. No payment or gift is associated with this information collection.

10. Disclosure of the information by the applicant is mandatory for the release and receipt of imported firearms, ammunition, and implements of war. The information is kept in a secured location. Confidentiality is not assured.

11. No questions of a sensitive nature are asked.

12. There are 20,000 respondents who complete this form. Each respondent completes the form 1 time. The total number of annual responses is 20,000. Estimated time to complete this form is 35 minutes. The total burden associated with this form is 11,667 hours.

13. There is no start-up cost associated with this collection. The cost to the respondent is postage which is estimated at $9,800 ($.49 x 20,000).

14. Estimates of annual cost to the Federal Government are: Printing, $2,200 and Labor $42,000 for a total of $44,200.

15. There are no program changes or adjustments associated with this collection.

16. The results of this collection will not be published.

17. ATF does not request approval to omit the expiration date of OMB approval for this information collection.

18. There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

2. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods

This information request does not employ statistical methods.

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