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Proposed Rule2026-09165

Removing Youth Handgun Safety Act Notice

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Published

May 8, 2026

Issuing agencies

Justice DepartmentAlcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau

Abstract

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes to remove Department of Justice ("Department") regulations regarding the Youth Handgun Safety Act. If finalized, this rule would remove the requirement that federal firearms licensees who deliver handguns to non-licensees post signs and provide written notice regarding the Act's provisions to each handgun purchaser.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 89 (Friday, May 8, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 89 (Friday, May 8, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25187-25192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09165]

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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

27 CFR Part 478

[Docket No. ATF-2026-0166; ATF No. 2025R-28P]
RIN 1140-AA87

Removing Youth Handgun Safety Act Notice

AGENCY: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives;
Department of Justice.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
(``ATF'') proposes to remove Department of Justice (``Department'')
regulations regarding the Youth Handgun Safety Act. If finalized, this
rule would remove the requirement that federal firearms licensees who
deliver handguns to non-licensees post signs and provide written notice
regarding the Act's provisions to each handgun purchaser.

DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing, and must be submitted on
or before (or, if mailed, must be postmarked on or before) August 6,
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.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 1140-AA87, by
either of the following methods--
<bullet> Federal e-rulemaking portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail: ATF Rulemaking Comments; Mail Stop 6N-518, Office of
Regulatory Affairs; Enforcement Programs and Services; Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; 99 New York Ave. NE,
Washington, DC 20226; ATTN: RIN 1140-AA87.
Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and
number (RIN 1140-AA87) for this notice of proposed rulemaking (``NPRM''
or ``proposed rule''). ATF may post all properly completed comments it
receives from either of the methods described above, without change, to
the federal e-rulemaking portal, <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. This
includes any personally identifying information (``PII'') or business
proprietary information (``PROPIN'') submitted in the body of the
comment or as part of a related attachment they want posted. Commenters
who submit through the federal e-rulemaking portal and do not want any
of their PII posted on the internet should omit it from the body of
their comment and any uploaded attachments that they want posted. If
online commenters wish to submit PII with their comment, they should
place it in a separate attachment and mark it at the top with the
marking ``CUI//PRVCY.'' Commenters who submit through mail should
likewise omit their PII or PROPIN from the body of the comment and
provide any such information on the cover sheet only, marking it at the
top as ``CUI//PRVCY'' for PII, or as ``CUI//PROPIN'' for PROPIN. For
detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information
on the rulemaking process, see the ``Public Participation'' heading of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. In accordance
with 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(4), a summary of this rule may be found at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Commenters must submit comments by using one of
the methods described above, not by emailing the address set forth in
the following paragraph.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Regulatory Affairs, by email
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b6f9e4f7f6d7c2d098d1d9c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4b04190a0b2a3f2d652c243d">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, by mail at Office of Regulatory Affairs; Enforcement

[[Page 25188]]

Programs and Services; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives; 99 New York Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20226, or by telephone
at 202-648-7070 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Attorney General is responsible for enforcing the Gun Control
Act of 1968 (``GCA''), as amended. This responsibility includes the
authority to promulgate regulations necessary to enforce the provisions
of the GCA.\1\ See 18 U.S.C. 926(a). Congress and the Attorney General
have delegated the responsibility for administering and enforcing the
GCA to the Director of ATF (``Director''), subject to the direction of
the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General. See 28 U.S.C.
599A(b)(1), (c)(1); 28 CFR 0.130(a)(1)-(2); Treas. Order No. 221(2)(a),
(d), 37 FR 11696-97 (June 10, 1972).\2\ Accordingly, the Department and
ATF have promulgated regulations to implement the GCA in 27 CFR part
478.
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\1\ Some GCA provisions still refer to the ``Secretary of the
Treasury.'' However, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law
107-296, 116 Stat. 2135, transferred the functions of ATF from the
Department of the Treasury to the Department of Justice, under the
general authority of the Attorney General. 26 U.S.C. 7801(a)(2); 28
U.S.C. 599A(c)(1). Thus, for ease of reference, this proposed rule
refers to the Attorney General where relevant.
\2\ In Attorney General Order Number 6353-2025, the Attorney
General delegated authority to the Director to issue regulations
pertaining to matters within ATF's jurisdiction, including under the
National Firearms Act, GCA, and Title XI of the Organized Crime
Control Act. ATF's jurisdiction also includes those portions of sec.
38 of the Arms Export Control Act pertaining to permanently
importing defense articles and services and the Contraband Cigarette
Trafficking Act.
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With some exceptions, the Youth Handgun Safety Act (``YHSA''), 18
U.S.C. 922(x), makes it unlawful for a person to sell, deliver, or
otherwise transfer to a juvenile a handgun, or ammunition suitable for
use only in a handgun, and for a juvenile to knowingly possess such
items. The YHSA's implementing regulations are set forth in 27 CFR part
478, subpart F--Conduct of Business. In July 1998, ATF published a
final rule titled ``Posting of Signs and Written Notification to
Purchasers of Handguns'' \3\ (``1998 final rule''). ATF published that
rule in response to a presidential memorandum \4\ that was part of an
effort to implement the YHSA and to make handgun purchasers familiar
with its provisions. The regulation, 27 CFR 478.103, requires each
licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector (``federal
firearms licensee'' or ``FFL'') that delivers a handgun to a non-
licensee to (1) provide written notice to the non-licensee (e.g., use
ATF I 5300.2 or include the required information in the sales receipt,
invoice, or other packing material) and (2) display a sign (ATF I
5300.1) at its licensed premises.
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\3\ Posting of Signs and Written Notification to Purchasers of
Handguns, 63 FR 37740 (July 13, 1998).
\4\ See Administration of William J. Clinton, ``Memorandum on
Enforcing the Youth Handgun Safety Act,'' 33 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc
856 (June 11, 1997).
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Prior to issuing the 1998 final rule, ATF published a proposed rule
in 1997 with a public notice and comment period.\5\ One commenter
disputed ATF's authority under the GCA to require any sort of warning
or notice of the YHSA requirements to handgun purchasers.\6\ Section
922(x) itself contains no such requirement. Similarly, another
commenter noted that ATF had not required notices or signs to warn
purchasers about other GCA provisions or the statutory prohibitions
against certain categories of persons possessing firearms.\7\
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\5\ Posting of Signs and Written Notification to Purchasers of
Handguns, 62 FR 45364 (Aug. 27, 1997).
\6\ 63 FR 37741.
\7\ National Rifle Association of America, Comment Letter on
Proposed Rule Regarding Posting of Signs and Written Notification to
Purchasers of Handguns (Aug. 27, 1997).
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II. Proposed Rule

ATF has reevaluated the 1998 final rule and agrees with the
commenters that the GCA does not require any sort of warning or
notification under section 922(x). ATF has also reevaluated the costs
and benefits of the 1998 final rule and has concluded that the 1998
final rule's required written notices and displays place an undue
burden on FFLs.
The original impetus for providing a warning or notice was to
``advise handgun purchasers of the still relatively new requirements of
the YHSA.'' \8\ Over 30 years have passed since the YHSA was enacted.
Its requirements are no longer ``relatively new.'' The law is well-
established, and FFLs and the public are aware of its requirements.
Widespread use of the internet has only increased licensees' and the
public's awareness. The YHSA's requirements are readily available on
several websites that are easy to find on search engines. Information
about the YHSA is more readily accessible now than ever before.
Moreover, ATF discusses federal, state, and local requirements with
first-time FFL applicants at in-person interviews,\9\ and those
interviews discuss the requirements of section 922(x). In addition, the
YHSA was published in the Statutes at Large and the U.S. Code, which
self-executes notice. See Fed. Crop Ins. Corp. v. Merrill, 332 U.S.
380, 384 (1947) (``[E]veryone is charged with knowledge of the United
States Statutes at Large.''). There are no new requirements of which to
make the public and FFLs aware. Thus, the regulation's impetus is moot,
and its requirements are superfluous. Nothing in the statute requires,
or authorizes, the separate sort of notice, or signs, that the
regulation requires. Therefore, ATF proposes rescinding 27 CFR 478.103.
Rescinding the regulation will better honor the YHSA's text and
eliminate an unnecessary and unduly burdensome regulatory requirement.
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\8\ Id.
\9\ ATF, Apply for a License, <a href="https://www.atf.gov/firearms/apply-license">https://www.atf.gov/firearms/apply-license</a> [<a href="https://perma.cc/QFA6-65NX">https://perma.cc/QFA6-65NX</a>].
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III. Statutory and Executive Order Review

A. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) directs
agencies to assess the costs and benefits of available regulatory
alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory
approaches that maximize net benefits.
Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review)
emphasizes the importance of agencies quantifying both costs and
benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting public
flexibility.
The Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') has determined that
this rule would not be a ``significant regulatory action'' under
Executive Order 12866. Therefore, it did not review this rule. ATF
provides the following analysis to comply with Executive Orders 12866
and 13563.
1. Need Statement
While juveniles are not permitted to possess a handgun or
ammunition, the YHSA requirements have been published, and the public
has been aware of its requirements over the course of 30 years. ATF has
reevaluated the 1998 final rule and concludes that requiring FFLs to
provide notice unnecessarily burdens FFLs. Because the majority of FFLs
are small businesses, ATF is seeking ways to reduce the administrative
hurdles that would inhibit growth for small businesses.

[[Page 25189]]

2. Benefits
Rescinding 27 CFR 478.103 would achieve significant cost-savings
for FFLs. Specifically, FFLs would no longer need to provide signs or
paper notices about the YHSA for all sales to non-licensed individuals
acquiring a handgun. ATF estimates that, over the course of 10 years,
the undiscounted cost-savings would be $8 million.
Because the notice requirements apply to every handgun or pistol
transfer by a licensee, ATF had to first estimate the number of such
firearms transferred or otherwise disposed of (``transferred'' or
``transfers'') per year, from which to calculate projected savings.
Every year, ATF inspects a certain subset of FFLs for compliance
purposes. As part of the inspection process, ATF may ask that FFLs
provide a general estimate on the number of transfers that have
occurred over the calendar year. ATF's data does not specify whether
the firearms are transferred to other FFLs or to individuals. Dealer-
FFL transfers are typically retail sales to non-licensed individuals.
Importer-FFLs and manufacturer-FFLs may also engage in retail sales to
non-licensed individuals, but generally their transfers are
intermediary shipments to other FFLs. Therefore, this analysis relied
on the data reported by dealer-FFLs as the most likely to involve
transfers to non-licensees. Because FFL-reported transfers do not
specify whether they were sales to other FFLs or to non-licensed
individuals, ATF acknowledges that this analysis under-reports the
savings likely to accrue from this proposed rule for transfers to non-
dealer FFLs. Table 1 shows the historical number of dealer-estimated
transfers by year.

Table 1--Transfers by Year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of dealer Average number of
Year FFLs inspected all transfers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2018............................ 1,048 547
2019............................ 8,341 561
2020............................ 2,267 656
2021............................ 3,778 1149
2022............................ 3,920 1279
------------------------------------------------------------------------

However, the dealer-estimated transfers include sales of all
firearms, including rifles and shotguns, while this rulemaking pertains
only to sales of handguns (pistols and revolvers). ATF excluded the
sales of all other firearms by using the ratio of handguns to other
firearms manufactured each year, as a proxy for the number of handguns
sold. ATF estimates that the number of firearms manufactured each year
closely approximates the number sold, due to market forces. Currently,
manufacturers must submit to ATF an Annual Firearms Manufactured or
Exported Report. ATF used data from those reports for this analysis.
Table 2 provides an annual, historic number of firearms manufactured in
the United States, as reported in ATF's Firearms Commerce in the United
States report.\10\
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\10\ ATF, Firearms Commerce in the United States: Statistical
Update 2024, <a href="https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/docs/report/2024firearmscommercereportpdf/download">https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/docs/report/2024firearmscommercereportpdf/download</a> [<a href="https://perma.cc/Q3ME-CP8S">https://perma.cc/Q3ME-CP8S</a>].

Table 2--Firearms Manufactured or Exported in the United States
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total firearms Total Percentage
Year Pistols Revolvers Rifles Shotguns manufactured handguns of handguns
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013.................................................... 4,441,726 725,282 3,979,570 1,203,072 10,349,650 5,167,008 49.92
2014.................................................... 3,633,454 744,047 3,379,549 935,411 8,692,461 4,377,501 50.36
2015.................................................... 3,557,199 885,259 3,691,799 777,273 8,911,530 4,442,458 49.85
2016.................................................... 4,720,075 856,291 4,239,335 848,617 10,664,318 5,576,366 52.29
2017.................................................... 3,691,010 720,917 2,504,092 653,139 7,569,158 4,411,927 58.29
2018.................................................... 3,881,158 664,835 2,880,536 536,126 7,962,655 4,545,993 57.09
2019.................................................... 3,046,013 580,601 1,957,667 480,735 6,065,016 3,626,614 59.80
2020.................................................... 5,509,183 993,078 2,760,392 476,682 9,739,335 6,502,261 66.76
2021.................................................... 6,751,919 1,159,918 3,934,374 675,426 12,521,637 7,911,837 63.19
2022.................................................... 6,150,667 830,786 3,577,951 662,350 11,221,754 6,981,453 62.21
2023.................................................... 3,939,517 805,054 3,119,376 602,782 8,466,729 4,744,571 56.04
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ATF estimated the annual number of handguns sold to non-licensed
individuals by each dealer-FFL by taking the percentages of handguns
manufactured each year and applying it to the average number of
transfers by dealer-FFLs. Then, to estimate this proposed rule's cost
savings for each FFL, ATF multiplied the average number of transfers by
the cost to print a black-and-white copy of each notice, which ATF
estimates would be $0.03.<SUP>11 12</SUP> Table 3 provides the average
number of transfers, estimated number of handgun sales to non-licensed
individuals, and estimated cost for each FFL to provide print notices.
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\11\ See, e.g., Staples, Copy Paper, <a href="https://www.staples.com/staples-copy-paper-11-x-17-20-lbs-white-500-sheets-ream-5-reams-carton-512215/product_512215">https://www.staples.com/staples-copy-paper-11-x-17-20-lbs-white-500-sheets-ream-5-reams-carton-512215/product_512215</a> [<a href="https://perma.cc/SB29-732R">https://perma.cc/SB29-732R</a>].
\12\ $0.03 per page = $74.89 box of paper/5 reams per box/500
sheets of paper per ream.

[[Page 25190]]

Table 3--2018-2022 Estimated Cost per FFL To Provide YHSA Notices for Handgun Sales
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
Number of Average number Percent of handguns Paper
Year dealer FFLs of transfers handguns sold to savings per
inspected manufactured public FFL
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2018.................................. 1,048 547 57.09 312 $9.36
2019.................................. 8,341 561 59.80 335 10.05
2020.................................. 2,267 656 66.76 438 13.14
2021.................................. 3,778 1149 63.19 726 21.78
2022.................................. 3,920 1279 62.21 796 23.88
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Average........................... .............. .............. .............. ........... 16.00
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As Table 2 shows, the average annual cost to provide YHSA notices
with all handgun sales between 2018 and 2022 was $16 per FFL. ATF
assumes these percentages would remain consistent in the future, as the
population of FFLs is typically stable.\13\ Under this proposed rule,
FFLs would not incur these costs, so the future projected cost savings
from this rule would also be $16 annually per FFL. Based on data from
ATF's Federal Firearms Licensing Center, there are approximately 50,000
dealer FFLs in any given year. At $16 per FFL, this rulemaking would
provide an annual or annualized industry savings of $794,272. Over the
course of 10 years, the undiscounted savings would be $8 million.
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\13\ ATF notes that, based on historical data, the number of
FFLs leaving and entering the market are very similar from year to
year, making the overall population of FFLs stable over time.
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3. Costs
To the extent this proposed rule imposes any costs on anyone, those
costs could only relate to the risk that the public might not be
informed of existing requirements not to deliver or transfer firearms
to juveniles. That risk is de minimis because, as already discussed
above, the YHSA was published in the Statutes at Large and the U.S.
Code, which self-executes notice. Moreover, the statutory requirement
has existed for 30 years, during which time all purchasers have been
notified consistently.
4. Regulatory Alternatives
Alternative 1. Maintaining the status quo (the no-action
alternative).
Maintaining the status quo would continue requiring FFLs to provide
notices, with every purchase of a handgun, that transferring or
delivering handguns and ammunition to juveniles is illegal. This
alternative would not create additional costs or additional benefits
because this is the current and existing requirement. ATF has rejected
this alternative because other alternatives provide more benefits by
removing burdens for FFLs.
Alternative 2. Rulemaking (the proposed alternative).
ATF considered the alternative of rulemaking to rescind the
requirement to provide paper notification of the YHSA's provisions upon
every handgun purchase. Because the notices contain information that is
already readily available--in its entirety--in the U.S. Code and
Statutes at Large, and the paper-notice requirement has been in effect
for 30 years, the paper-notice requirement is an administrative burden
that is unnecessary and redundant. Removing the paper-notice
requirement will provide cost savings and benefits, especially to small
businesses who may have smaller profit margins than large businesses
and may benefit from reduced administrative burdens.
Alternative 3. Issuing guidance.
This alternative was considered but rejected. While this
alternative would not impose any additional costs, it would not rescind
the requirements currently published by regulation. It also would not
have the force and effect of a regulation, so the guidance would not be
able to affect the existing regulatory requirement, which is
unnecessary; therefore, this alternative was rejected.

B. Executive Order 14192

Executive Order 14192 (Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation)
requires an agency, unless prohibited by law, to identify at least ten
existing regulations to be repealed or revised when the agency publicly
proposes for notice and comment or otherwise promulgates a new
regulation that qualifies as an Executive Order 14192 regulatory action
(defined in OMB Memorandum M-25-20 as a final significant regulatory
action as defined in section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 that imposes
total costs greater than zero). In furtherance of this requirement,
section 3(c) of Executive Order 14192 requires that any new incremental
costs associated with such new regulations must, to the extent
permitted by law, also be offset by eliminating existing costs
associated with at least ten prior regulations. However, this proposed
rule would not be an Executive Order 14192 regulatory action because it
is not a significant regulatory action as defined by Executive Order
12866 and it would not impose total costs greater than zero. This
proposed rule would remove a regulatory requirement to post signs and
provide notices, and would provide an undiscounted savings of $8
million over the course of 10 years. In addition, ATF expects this
rule, if finalized as proposed, to qualify as an Executive Order 14192
deregulatory action (defined by OMB Memorandum M-25-20 as a final
action that imposes total costs less than zero).

C. Executive Order 14294

Executive Order 14924 (Fighting Overcriminalization in Federal
Regulations) requires agencies promulgating regulations with criminal
regulatory offenses potentially subject to criminal enforcement to
explicitly describe the conduct subject to criminal enforcement, the
authorizing statutes, and the mens rea standard applicable to each
element of those offenses. This proposed rule would not create a
criminal regulatory offense and is thus exempt from Executive Order
14294 requirements.

D. Executive Order 13132

This proposed rule would not have substantial direct effects on the
states, the relationship between the federal government and the states,
or the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various
levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with section 6 of
Executive Order 13132 (Federalism), the Director has determined that
this proposed rule would not impose substantial direct compliance costs
on state and local governments, preempt state law, or meaningfully
implicate federalism. It thus does not warrant preparing a federalism
summary impact statement.

[[Page 25191]]

E. Executive Order 12988

This proposed rule meets the applicable standards set forth in
sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice
Reform).

F. Regulatory Flexibility Act

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), agencies
are required to conduct a regulatory flexibility analysis of any
proposed rule subject to notice-and-comment rulemaking requirements
unless the agency head certifies, including a statement of the factual
basis, that the rule would not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. Small entities include certain
small businesses, small not-for-profit organizations that are
independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their fields,
and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 50,000.
The Director certifies, after consideration, that this proposed
rule would not have a significant impact on a substantial number of
small entities because it removes previous regulatory requirements,
thereby also removing any costs or burdens of complying with them. This
proposed rule is deregulatory and would not impose any additional
costs.

G. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

This proposed rule does not include a federal mandate that might
result in the expenditure by state, local, and tribal governments, in
the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more in any
one year, and it will not significantly or uniquely affect small
governments. Therefore, ATF has determined that no actions are
necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of
1995.

H. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (``PRA''), 44 U.S.C.
3501-3521, agencies are required to submit to OMB, for review and
approval, any information collection requirements a rule creates or any
impacts it has on existing information collections. An information
collection includes any reporting, record-keeping, monitoring, posting,
labeling, or other similar actions an agency requires of the public.
See 5 CFR 1320.3(c). This proposed rule would not create any new
information collection requirements or impact any existing ones covered
by the PRA.

I. Congressional Review Act

This proposed rule would not be a major rule as defined by the
Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 804.

IV. Public Participation

A. Comments Sought

ATF requests comments on the proposed rule from all interested
persons. ATF specifically requests comments on the clarity of this
proposed rule and how it may be made easier to understand. In addition,
ATF requests comments on the costs or benefits of the proposed rule and
on the appropriate methodology and data for calculating those costs and
benefits.
All comments must reference this document's RIN 1140-AA87 and, if
handwritten, must be legible. If submitting by mail, you must also
include your complete first and last name and contact information. If
submitting a comment through the federal e-rulemaking portal, as
described in section IV.C of this preamble, you should carefully review
and follow the website's instructions on submitting comments. Whether
you submit comments online or by mail, ATF will post them online. If
submitting online as an individual, any information you provide in the
online fields for city, state, zip code, and phone will not be publicly
viewable when ATF publishes the comment on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
However, if you include such personally identifying information
(``PII'') in the body of your online comment, it may be posted and
viewable online. Similarly, if you submit a written comment with PII in
the body of the comment, it may be posted and viewable online.
Therefore, all commenters should review section IV.B of this preamble,
``Confidentiality,'' regarding how to submit PII if you do not want it
published online. ATF may not consider, or respond to, comments that do
not meet these requirements or comments containing excessive profanity.
ATF will retain comments containing excessive profanity as part of this
rulemaking's administrative record but will not publish such documents
on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. ATF will treat all comments as
originals and will not acknowledge receipt of comments. In addition, if
ATF cannot read your comment due to handwriting or technical
difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, ATF may not be
able to consider your comment.
ATF will carefully consider all comments, as appropriate, received
on or before the closing date.

B. Confidentiality

ATF will make all comments meeting the requirements of this
section, whether submitted electronically or on paper, and except as
described below, available for public viewing on the internet through
the federal e-rulemaking portal, and subject to the Freedom of
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). Commenters who submit by mail and who
do not want their name or other PII posted on the internet should
submit their comments with a separate cover sheet containing their PII.
The separate cover sheet should be marked with ``CUI//PRVCY'' at the
top to identify it as protected PII under the Privacy Act. Both the
cover sheet and comment must reference this RIN 1140-AA87. For comments
submitted by mail, information contained on the cover sheet will not
appear when posted on the internet, but any PII that appears within the
body of a comment will not be redacted by ATF and may appear on the
internet. Similarly, commenters who submit through the federal e-
rulemaking portal and who do not want any of their PII posted on the
internet should omit such PII from the body of their comment and in any
uploaded attachments. However, PII entered into the online fields
designated for name, email, and other contact information will not be
posted or viewable online.
A commenter may submit to ATF information identified as proprietary
or confidential business information by mail. To request that ATF
handle this information as controlled unclassified information
(``CUI''), the commenter must place any portion of a comment that is
proprietary or confidential business information under law or
regulation on pages separate from the balance of the comment, with each
page prominently marked ``CUI//PROPIN'' at the top of the page.
ATF will not make proprietary or confidential business information
submitted in compliance with these instructions available when
disclosing the comments that it receives but will disclose that the
commenter provided proprietary or confidential business information
that ATF is holding in a separate file to which the public does not
have access. If ATF receives a request to examine or copy this
information, it will treat it as any other request under the Freedom of
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). In addition, ATF will disclose such
proprietary or confidential business information to the extent required
by other legal process.

[[Page 25192]]

C. Submitting Comments

Submit comments using either of the two methods described below
(but do not submit the same comment multiple times or by more than one
method). Hand-delivered comments will not be accepted.
<bullet> Federal e-rulemaking portal: ATF recommends that you
submit your comments to ATF via the federal e-rulemaking portal at
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and follow the instructions. Comments will
be posted within a few days of being submitted. However, if large
volumes of comments are being processed simultaneously, your comment
may not be viewable for up to several weeks. Please keep the comment
tracking number that is provided after you have successfully uploaded
your comment.
<bullet> Mail: Send written comments to the address listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this document. Written comments must appear in
minimum 12-point font size, include the commenter's first and last name
and full mailing address, and may be of any length. See also section
IV.B of this preamble, ``Confidentiality.''

D. Request for Hearing

Any interested person who desires an opportunity to comment orally
at a public hearing should submit his or her request, in writing, to
the Director within the 90-day comment period. The Director, however,
reserves the right to determine, in light of all circumstances, whether
a public hearing is necessary.

Disclosure

Copies of this proposed rule and the comments received in response
to it are available through the federal e-rulemaking portal, at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> (search for RIN 1140-AA87).

List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 478

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.

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, ATF proposes to amend 27
CFR part 478 as follows:

PART 478--COMMERCE IN FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION

0
1. The authority citation for 27 CFR part 478 continues to read as
follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 18 U.S.C. 847, 921-931; 44
U.S.C.3504(h).

Sec. 478.103 [Removed and Reserved]

0
2. Remove and reserve Sec. 478.103.

Robert Cekada,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2026-09165 Filed 5-7-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-FY-P

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