The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced on Wednesday that it is withdrawing its proposal to facilitate transfers between federal firearms licensees (FFLs) due to “significant adverse comments.”
On May 6, ATF put forward a plan to implement what it called a “licensee ‘eZ Check’ certification for transfer.” This was part of an effort to revise around 30 regulations, a review ordered by President Donald Trump in February 2025. The initiative aimed to allow dealers to use the “eZ Check” system to confirm the legitimacy of transferring dealers, leveraging the advanced technology now in use by many FFLs. However, opponents of the Second Amendment were not satisfied with this proposed change, which they saw as potentially too lax.
ATF mentioned that if significant concerns were raised by June 5, the rule would be scrapped and a formal revocation would be published in the Federal Register. This announcement coincided with the withdrawal of the proposed rule.
Organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety, backed by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, along with Brady United and Giffords, expressed opposition in a letter urging that existing regulations remain intact. They argued that the changes could lead to an increase in “fraudulent” transfers.
The letter criticized the proposed regulation for containing major loopholes, which they warned could facilitate the illegal transfer of firearms. They stated, “We express our strong concerns that this rule increases the risk of fraudulent transfers to transferees who can unknowingly obtain and use FFL license numbers.” Furthermore, they pointed out a lack of essential safeguards to confirm the authenticity of the transferee’s FFL.
The previous method required the receiving dealer to provide a certified copy of their FFL, which could then be verified through eZ Check, a system in use since 2002. In May, the ATF suggested that FFLs could utilize eZ Check directly for verification, taking into account the modern technology available to them.
ATF explained that while the eZ Check system was designed primarily to confirm the validity of license copies, it could also be used to check if a licensee still held a current license. The proposal aimed to streamline this process, allowing the transferring dealer to verify the license status without needing a certified copy first.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) responded positively to the ATF’s proposed amendments, arguing that they were necessary to modernize compliance with the Gun Control Act. They noted that the existing regulations had not changed since 1988, long before the Internet became widely adopted. “Business practices have evolved dramatically, and it’s critical that these rules adapt accordingly,” NSSF stated.
As of now, there was no response from the National Rifle Association regarding the ATF’s decision to withdraw the proposal.
