Alert For Visiting Shooters,
Hunters And Related Businesspeople
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) has announced
restrictive new rules on possession of firearms by visitors to the
United States. The new rules implement a 1998 law that prohibits
possession or purchase of firearms by most non-immigrant aliens such as
tourists, students, and temporary workers.
There are exemptions for
licensed hunters, law enforcement officers on official business, and
certain other foreign officials.
However, when the rules go into effect
on February 19, 2002, all foreign visitors (other than law enforcement
officers and foreign government officials) seeking to bring a firearm
into the United States will be required to apply for an import permit
from BATF's Imports Branch. Because approval of import permits can take
several months, anyone planning to visit the United States to shoot,
hunt, or attend sporting trade shows should contact BATF's Imports
Branch immediately to ask about this procedure. You may call the Imports
Branch at (202) 927-8320.
To read the new rules, see pages 5422-5429 of the Federal Register for
Tuesday, February 5, available online at
http://www.atf.treas.gov/regulations/td471.pdf.
While the rules are going into effect on a "temporary" basis in less
than two weeks, they are also subject to a public comment period, so
please make known your views on this issue. Make sure your comments
refer to "Notice No. 935" and that they are received at BATF on or
before May 6, 2002. Your signed comments, up to three pages long, may
be sent by fax to: (202)-927-8602. Comments may also be e-mailed to:
nprm@atfhq.atf.treas.gov. E-mailed comments must contain your name,
mailing address, and e-mail address, and must be no more than three
pages long when printed. More detailed comments may be mailed to:
Chief, Regulations Division
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
P.O. Box 50221
Washington, DC 20091-0221
Attn: Notice No. 935
The National Rifle Association of America will work with the
Administration and the Congress in an effort to ensure that the
implementation of this law does not burden law-abiding visitors to the
U.S. and the businesses that depend on them. If your visit to the
United States is obstructed by these new regulations, please contact the
NRA's Office of Legislative Counsel at (703) 267-1160.
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