In a submitting in VanDerStok et al, v. Bondi et al. (previously VanDerStok v. Garland), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has requested the US District Court docket for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Value Division, to remain the case for 90 days as a consequence of an upcoming rule change.
The ATF’s Frames and Receivers Rule (formally Closing Rule 2021R-05F, titled “Definition of ‘Body or Receiver’ and Identification of Firearms”) is a 2022 regulation issued by the ATF. It up to date the regulatory definitions of “firearm,” “body,” and “receiver” beneath the Gun Management Act of 1968 (GCA). The rule successfully restricts the sale or switch of most unfinished firearm frames and receivers that aren’t serialized – colloquially referred to as “80% firearms.” Though the official time period is privately manufactured firearms (PMFs), anti-gun teams have demonized this stuff as “ghost weapons.”
The rule was revealed within the Federal Register on April 26, 2022, and took impact on August 24, 2022. It stays in drive following the U.S. Supreme Court docket’s 7-2 resolution in Bondi v. VanDerStok (2025), which upheld the rule in opposition to a facial problem.
Earlier than the change, federal legislation usually outlined a firearm as a single half that homes the hammer, bolt, or breechblock, and firing mechanism. The brand new rule expanded this to incorporate partially accomplished frames or receivers (together with sure components kits) which have reached a stage of manufacture the place they’re clearly identifiable as an unfinished body or receiver, or which might be designed to, or might readily be accomplished, assembled, restored, or transformed to perform as a body or receiver.
The key phrase is “readily.” The ATF defines “readily” as a course of that’s pretty or moderately environment friendly, fast, and straightforward, making an allowance for components equivalent to time, instruments, experience, directions, jigs or templates, and different components. In line with the ATF, promoting {a partially} accomplished decrease with a jig, template, or directions could make it topic to regulation.
The rule primarily impacts the industrial sale or switch of unfinished precursor components. House builders are nonetheless free to privately manufacture their very own PMFs with out a federal firearms license (FFL) or serial quantity, so long as the firearms aren’t on the market and never transferred to prohibited individuals.
Nevertheless, the components they buy might now be regulated if offered as kits. Exemptions exist beneath the rule. A naked forging, a flat sheet with out indexing, or a really incomplete equipment requiring vital machining, experience, or time is usually not regulated as a firearm. AR-15 lowers stay the serialized “receiver” beneath the prior grandfathered classification.
Many are questioning what’s altering with the rule. Though the revised rule remains to be in draft kind and the ultimate language is topic to alter, AmmoLand Information spoke with sources on the ATF to get a high-level overview of the proposed modifications. Polymer frames, equivalent to these made by the now-defunct Polymer80, will stay topic to strict regulation. Nothing will change on that entrance.
Our sources point out that sure metallic merchandise, such because the MUP-1 from JSD Provide, will now be permissible. JSD Provide beforehand offered an 80% Sig P320 equipment earlier than the regulatory change and was rumored to be engaged on a Sig P365 equipment. If the brand new draft rule stays as presently written, these kits will as soon as once more be authorized to promote and switch.
This rule is only one of many anticipated modifications that can reduce the ATF’s grip on the firearms business. The up to date rule isn’t earth-shattering, nevertheless it represents progress in rolling again a few of former President Joe Biden’s use of presidency regulation to focus on law-abiding gun homeowners.
About John Crump
Mr. Crump is an NRA teacher and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed folks from all walks of life, and on the Structure. John lives in Northern Virginia together with his spouse and sons, observe him on X at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
