ATF eForms sytem shutdown for forseeable future due to budgets
https://www.ammoland.com/2024/02/atf...T9i7twSE%C2%A0
Earlier in the week, AmmoLand News received a concerning tip from an anonymous source about the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) eForms system being shut down for the foreseeable future. This tip came through our anonymous tip box and was also given to YouTuber DLD After Dark by a second source and passed on to AmmoLand. Without verification, we were unable to share the information with the public.
EForms is the system that the ATF uses to process National Firearms Act (NFA) applications for things like silencers and short-barrel rifles. The majority of NFA applications are submitted through the eForms system, which replaced paper forms. The vast majority of gun shops that sell NFA items are dependent on the eForms system to process forms.
Since being informed of the pending shutdown, the eForms system went offline exactly when our sources predicted it would. AmmoLand News was able to verify the information with a third party that this wasn?t an unscheduled outage and was planned by the ATF. The vendor responsible for eForms received notification that the system would be taken offline for ?Congressional budgeting concerns.?
Although the email cited Congressional budgeting issues, it did not specify them. Currently, the government is facing a shutdown, but a deal for a continuing resolution (CR) has been reached, and the ATF is currently operating under the old resolution that isn?t due to expire until Friday. This fact leads many to wonder why the ATF decided to shut down the system.
EForms applications have been going through incredibly fast lately, leading many to wonder if the speed of approval was the ATF trying to clear out the backlog of applications before the system was taken offline. The ATF has been mum about the increased speed of approvals and why that hasn?t always been the case since eForms was launched. Excitement over the speed has turned to dread since the system was taken offline.
Congress specifically earmarks funding for the ATF?s eForms system to speed up the approval process of NFA) applications. By shutting down the system, it appears that the ATF is ignoring the wishes of Congress and breaking the law. To many, this shows a government agency that is out of control and doesn?t seem to be held accountable for its actions.
?The recommendation assumes that within the resources provided, ATF will
prioritize funding for the National Firearms Act Division to improve firearms licensing processing timelines,? Congress wrote. ?The Committee is concerned about the large number of pending applications awaiting processing by ATF. In 2013, ATF established eForms, an electronic filing process, to reduce submission and processing times as well as data entry processing backlogs. The Committee is aware ATF is currently developing ATF Form 4 into eForms and encourages ATF to prioritize funding for this continued development within the funds provided. Completing the modernization of the processing system and automating ATF Form 4 applications is critical and will free up additional resources for improved customer service and prevent backlogs from continuing to mount.?
