http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20000830/aponline133535_000.htm
Feds Propose Yearly Gun Inventory
By Jeannine Aversa
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2000; 1:35 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON -- Federally licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers of
guns would have to conduct at least one inventory each year to identify any
missing firearms, under a rule proposed by the Clinton administration.
The proposal by the Treasury Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms would "help strengthen enforcement of federal firearms laws and
reduce the avenues in which violent criminals and juveniles acquire illegal
firearms," James Johnson, Treasury undersecretary for enforcement, said in
a
statement Wednesday.
More than 27,000 lost or stolen firearms were reported by federal licensees
between 1998 and 1999. Stolen firearms are a "significant source of guns
for
criminals," Johnson said.
"Inventory discrepancies, recordkeeping errors and employee theft (problems
which often only become apparent when a physical inventory is conducted)
accounted for almost 40 percent of the reported incidents," ATF said in the
Federal Register, which published the proposal Monday.
The proposal is subject to public comment and possible revision before
taking effect. Interested parties must weigh in by Nov. 27.
Existing law requires licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers to
report any theft or loss of firearms from their inventories to the ATF or
appropriate local authorities within 48 hours after it is discovered.
The proposal would require licensees to do at least one annual physical
inventory of their firearms and reconcile that inventory with their
records.
Any missing firearms would have to be reported within 48 hours.
In addition, the proposal clarifies that when guns are lost in transit or
during shipment, it is the responsibility of the party sending the firearms
to report a stolen or missing gun. Existing regulations do not specify
whether the sending or receiving licensee is responsible for making such a
report.
"The lack of clarity ... may result in neither party reporting the theft or
loss," ATF said in its proposal.
In 1999, there were 1,271 crime guns traced in which the licensee claimed
that it never received the firearm shipped to it and the firearm had not
been reported lost or stolen, ATF said.
---
On the Net: ATF's web site: http://www.atf.treas.gov
Feds Propose Yearly Gun Inventory
By Jeannine Aversa
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2000; 1:35 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON -- Federally licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers of
guns would have to conduct at least one inventory each year to identify any
missing firearms, under a rule proposed by the Clinton administration.
The proposal by the Treasury Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms would "help strengthen enforcement of federal firearms laws and
reduce the avenues in which violent criminals and juveniles acquire illegal
firearms," James Johnson, Treasury undersecretary for enforcement, said in
a
statement Wednesday.
More than 27,000 lost or stolen firearms were reported by federal licensees
between 1998 and 1999. Stolen firearms are a "significant source of guns
for
criminals," Johnson said.
"Inventory discrepancies, recordkeeping errors and employee theft (problems
which often only become apparent when a physical inventory is conducted)
accounted for almost 40 percent of the reported incidents," ATF said in the
Federal Register, which published the proposal Monday.
The proposal is subject to public comment and possible revision before
taking effect. Interested parties must weigh in by Nov. 27.
Existing law requires licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers to
report any theft or loss of firearms from their inventories to the ATF or
appropriate local authorities within 48 hours after it is discovered.
The proposal would require licensees to do at least one annual physical
inventory of their firearms and reconcile that inventory with their
records.
Any missing firearms would have to be reported within 48 hours.
In addition, the proposal clarifies that when guns are lost in transit or
during shipment, it is the responsibility of the party sending the firearms
to report a stolen or missing gun. Existing regulations do not specify
whether the sending or receiving licensee is responsible for making such a
report.
"The lack of clarity ... may result in neither party reporting the theft or
loss," ATF said in its proposal.
In 1999, there were 1,271 crime guns traced in which the licensee claimed
that it never received the firearm shipped to it and the firearm had not
been reported lost or stolen, ATF said.
---
On the Net: ATF's web site: http://www.atf.treas.gov