ATF form for multiple handgun purchases?

kcult

kcult

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I was told today that if you buy more than one pistol or revolver (I think within a 5 day period), that the FFL fills out a form confirming it and sends it to the ATF.

This is the first I heard of this.

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kcult said:
I was told today that if you buy more than one pistol or revolver (I think within a 5 day period), that the FFL fills out a form confirming it and sends it to the ATF.

This is the first I heard of this.

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I highly doubt it
 
I’ve heard something similar, but it was a number greater than 2. I assume it’s not true, but don’t know.
 
I was shown the form today.

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It’s been around for a while. 2 pistols in 10 days or some such. Academy did it to me a while back.


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It's true.

https://www.atf.gov/file/61426/download

This form is to be used by licensees to report all transactions in which an unlicensed person acquired two or more pistols or revolvers or any combination
of pistols or revolvers totaling two or more at one time or during five consecutive business days.
Click to expand...

I believe your CLEO is also given notice, but they are only allowed to keep the record for 6 months or something. I guess the idea being that if someone is selling to gangbangers then the gun will be used in a crime sooner rather than later.

I've bought multiple handguns at once at least twice in my life, but this doesn't keep me up at night. Now, if you start making it a habit then you can probably expect a visit from the ATF and a request to see the guns (to prove you aren't flipping them).
 
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Uh oh! If that form is more than a couple years' old then they have a file on me! Pouring a drink and waiting for the flash bang any moment.
 
I had to deal with the same thing when I bought 2 revolvers from Bud's. I told the FFL whatever- he said he'd rather not have to fill out the form and could I come back next week?
No problem, neither were anything rare so it wasn't like he was going to sell them. Picked up one, got the 22 the following week.
 
zuerjoha said:
It's true.

https://www.atf.gov/file/61426/download



I believe your CLEO is also given notice, but they are only allowed to keep the record for 6 months or something. I guess the idea being that if someone is selling to gangbangers then the gun will be used in a crime sooner rather than later.

I've bought multiple handguns at once at least twice in my life, but this doesn't keep me up at night. Now, if you start making it a habit then you can probably expect a visit from the ATF and a request to see the guns (to prove you aren't flipping them).
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Yep. CLEO is notified.

More than one in a five day period. The form says pistols or revolvers.

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Oneofsix said:
I had to deal with the same thing when I bought 2 revolvers from Bud's. I told the FFL whatever- he said he'd rather not have to fill out the form and could I come back next week?
No problem, neither were anything rare so it wasn't like he was going to sell them. Picked up one, got the 22 the following week.
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That's what I'm doing.

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Correct. It's been that way for years. Multi sale form.

Just spread your purchases out or buy them all at once and pick them up a week or so apart.

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They must have loved it when I bought a rifle (assault no less), 2 handguns, mags and a few thousand rounds of ammo at the same time. Wonder if I was under surveillance that week? Guess I am a real wimp since they didn't come interview me. Or they saw me shoot at the Wake Co. range and figured I was no risk.
 
Only handguns are included on the form. No info about other purchases

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It's a precaution to keep track of possible straw purchases or selling to prohibited persons. At the very most you'd get a visit in which they would ask to see them to make sure you are buying them for you and not running an illegal firearms business.

From what I've heard and understand it takes several of those forms being sent in to even get on their radar and when they do come they will probably have a warrant already.
 
Probably goes without saying but this form is only completed if its multiple handguns from a single FFL. I've walked out of the Greensboro gun show with multiple purchases from multiple vendors with no extra paperwork but my brother has purchased two guns at the same time from a single vendor and they completed the extra form.
 
This also applies to consignment handguns. If you pick up guns you own but are on the FFL’s book you fill out 4473 to get them back and FFL sends forms to CLEO and ATF. I picked up 20 at on time and the FFL was not happy about it. I told him he would have sold them.
 
BloodRunsThicker said:
Only handguns are included on the form. No info about other purchases

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Doesn't it also apply to stripped lowers? I’ve had one occcasion to need that form and it had I think 5 items on it. 2 pistols and 3 lowers.
 
You are correct. I forgot about that because lowers are usually marked as "other" by most shops since they can be either.

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kcult said:
I was told today that if you buy more than one pistol or revolver (I think within a 5 day period), that the FFL fills out a form confirming it and sends it to the ATF.

This is the first I heard of this.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


Yep. Been that way since 1968.
 
zuerjoha said:
It's true.

https://www.atf.gov/file/61426/download



I believe your CLEO is also given notice, but they are only allowed to keep the record for 6 months or something. I guess the idea being that if someone is selling to gangbangers then the gun will be used in a crime sooner rather than later.

I've bought multiple handguns at once at least twice in my life, but this doesn't keep me up at night. Now, if you start making it a habit then you can probably expect a visit from the ATF and a request to see the guns (to prove you aren't flipping them).
Click to expand...

Anyone want to bet that CLEOs retain that information?
 
11B CIB said:
Anyone want to bet that CLEOs retain that information?
Click to expand...


Some do. Some don't. Several years ago, the Lincoln County Sheriff called a gun shop I was in and asked if they could throw away this GD fax they got. It was a multiple purchase form.
 
kcult said:
That's the year I was born. Finding a tit was my first priority, not multiple handgun purchases.
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But a form was filled out for every time you sucked on more than one tit in a 5 business day period! You are screwed!
 
11B CIB said:
Anyone want to bet that CLEOs retain that information?
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I probably would, if I was in that position. Of course, if I was in that position, it's because I wanted to be in a position to know stuff about all the people "under me."
 
Jess senior. It is true. Dey hab my numbers. This same rule applies for all firearms purchases..... not just handguns.:(
 
Elenaidan said:
Jess senior. It is true. Dey hab my numbers. This same rule applies for all firearms purchases..... not just handguns.:(
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I was only shown the document regarding handguns, since I was buying a handgun.

If it applies to all firearms, why differentiate?
 
Catfish said:
Doesn't it also apply to stripped lowers? I’ve had one occcasion to need that form and it had I think 5 items on it. 2 pistols and 3 lowers.
Click to expand...

No only handguns, ar15s and the like if you are in a border state. Not sure if that part is still current.
 
Yep. I once bought three pistols at the same time and it was completed by the dealer then.
 
When I got my FFL, that was one of the things the ATF agent that met with us stressed. To fill out the multiple handgun purchase form.
 
kcult said:
I was told today that if you buy more than one pistol or revolver (I think within a 5 day period), that the FFL fills out a form confirming it and sends it to the ATF.

This is the first I heard of this.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Yep this is true. Filled out plenty of them
 
How long may Chief Law Enforcement Officers (CLEOs) retain multiple sale reports?
Federal law, 18 U.S.C. 923(g)(3)(B), provides that Chief Law Enforcement Officers (CLEOs) receiving copies of ATF Form 3310.4 from FFLs for sales to nonprohibited persons may not disclose the contents of the forms and must destroy the forms and any record of the content of the forms within 20 days of receipt.
 
Must a licensee advise ATF if two or more pistols or revolvers are sold or otherwise disposed of to an unlicensed person?
The disposition of two or more pistols or revolvers to any nonlicensee during a period of 5 consecutive business days must be reported on ATF Form 3310.4, Report of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Pistols and Revolvers, not later than the close of the business day on the day of disposition of the second pistol or revolver. The licensee must forward a copy of the Form 3310.4 to the ATF office specified thereon, and another copy must be forwarded to the State police or local law enforcement agency where the sale occurred. A copy of the Form 3310.4 must also be attached to the ATF Form 4473 executed upon delivery of the pistols or revolvers.

A business day for purposes of reporting multiple sales of pistols or revolvers is a day that a licensee conducts business pursuant to the license, regardless of whether State offices are open. The application of the term “business day” is, therefore, distinguishable from the term “business day” as used in the NICS context.

Example: A licensee conducts business only on Saturdays and Sundays, days on which State offices are not open. The licensee sells a pistol to an unlicensed person on a Saturday. If that same unlicensed person acquires another handgun the next day (Sunday), the following Saturday or Sunday, or the Saturday after that, the reporting requirement would be triggered, the subsequent acquisition of a pistol or revolver would have to be reported on a Form 3310.4 by the close of the day upon which the second or subsequent pistol or revolver was sold.
 
I was told 5.
Butt that was the day I received my BIL's inventory by mail from MA.
[MA requires a permit to possess firearms or ammunition even in the home. His permit was suspended for a DUI citation, not conviction]

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