“I am against the recent alteration of the ‘engaging in the business’ definition.
This change, which Director Dettelbach and the BATFE website claim clarifies the term, actually introduces more vagueness and complexity compared to the longstanding definition from 1968. Such ambiguity grants the BATFE and legal authorities excessive leeway to manipulate the definition, potentially targeting law-abiding gun owners and collectors. Historically, the BATFE has exploited legal uncertainties to unjustly prosecute gun enthusiasts.
Furthermore, this redefinition contradicts the intentions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, leading to greater confusion and potential misuse. It appears that the primary aim of this change is to hinder private firearm transfers, pushing them towards licensed dealers, thus necessitating extensive paperwork and record-keeping. Effectively, this rule seems like an attempt to establish an indirect gun registry, a concept consistently opposed by Congress.
This alteration not only exceeds the BATFE’s jurisdiction but also challenges constitutional boundaries. As such, it warrants complete rejection.”
WHERE TO SEND LETTER: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/09/08/2023-19177/definition-of-engaged-in-the-business-as-a-dealer-in-firearms