Multiple Transfers on the same form

[litewavve]

My FFL told me that multiple transfers on the same form would get ATF's attention. He suggested that it might be better to have one transfer per form. But he did not know what consequences if any, the extra scrutiny from ATF would cause.

I wonder if this is just an urban legend or real. The "theory" does not sound very logical to me as ATF can always figure out how many transfers one has made by just compiling the data it has regardless how many transfers were on the same form or how many forms were submitted.

Any thoughts?

[275RLTW]

ATF gets concerned when the multiple transfers of handguns are not listed properly on the same form. When 2 or more handguns are acquired within 5 consecutive business days, the FFL holder must complete form 3310.4. There is nothing additional that the purchaser must do, nor do multiple purchases raise any flags with ATF. There is no limit to how many firearms you can purchase or how often. Just additional paperwork for the FFL holder. According to ATF, the most reported problem from random ATF audits was the proper filing of multiple transfers on form 3310.4 by FFL holders. As a purchaser, don't worry about a thing....

[Bailey Guns]

Then only time the ATF would even know is if you buy more than one handgun. The dealer is then required to complete a mulitple handgun purchase form (it could be more than one handgun on the same form or more than one handgun from the same dealer in 5 consecutive business days, I think) and mail/fax it to the ATF.

If you only buy one handgun and multiple long guns, the ATF doesn't know. Even the FBI, the agency doing the background check, doesn't know exactly what you're buying. They only know that the purchase is for a handgun, a long gun or other (such as a frame/receiver). They don't know the particulars of the purchase such as: brand, model, serial number, etc... The ATF would actually have to contact the dealer or inspect the form to know what you bought.

Personally, after having an FFL for almost 12 years, I don't think they care.

[Circuits]

+1

You could buy 10, 100, 1000 long guns on a single 4473 and background check, and it would get reported and checked no differently than if you'd bought a single long gun.

If they were all different makes/models and serials, it'd get messy with all the continuation sheets required to fill out all that information for storage in the dealer's files.

At their next periodic inspection ATF *might* take an interest if they came across that 4473, I guess.

[sniper7]

just don't buy more than 1 handgun every 5 days and you won't get on any extra paperwork. simple as that.

[litewavve]

What you guys said here makes a lot of sense.

The way my FFL explained to me led me to think that ATF is tracking the number of purchases each private citizen makes and there might be a threshold that would trigger some inquiry.

[TFOGGER]

That stuff doesn't come up until your "ranch" becomes a "compound"....

[Bailey Guns]

That stuff doesn't come up until your "ranch" becomes a "compound"....

Uh, oh.

[Daniel_187]

if you do, lock up your dog

[sniper7]

if you do, lock up your dog

+1