Sen. Marshall leads letter to ATF targeting Kansas Firearm License holders

Last week saw the introduction of the RIFLE Act, a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS 1) to protect Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL). This week, Rep. Mann joined Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) along with other U.S. Representatives from Kansas Jake LaTurner (R-KS 2) and Ron Estes (R-KS 4) to pen a letter to the Biden Administrations Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

According to a press release from U.S. Sen. Marshall, he wrote the letter to ATF Director Steven Dettelbach “expressing concern for the conduct and intent of ATF agents auditing Kansas firearm license holders. Many FFL holders in Kansas have documented instances where ATF agents have revoked their licenses over several unintentional filing errors. Sen. Marshall’s letter urges ATF agents to find ways to work with Kansas gun owners to correct clerical errors and keep them in business.”  

In his letter, Sen. Marshall states that ATF agents in Kansas have seemingly “strayed” from the agency’s mission to “partner with communities, industries, law enforcement, and public safety agencies to safeguard the public . . .,” choosing instead to jeopardize the Second Amendment rights of Kansans through “hostile and aggressive enforcement actions” which have led to the closing of small, family-owned gun retailers across the state.

According to the letter, many Kansas FFL holders have had their licenses revoked by ATF agents over minor clerical errors when, in past years, ATF agents have worked with business owners to ensure compliance under the law for similar issues.

Sen. Marshall’s letter goes on to question how an unintentional clerical error could meet the standard of “willful violation” which would lead to a revoked license.

“Over the last 12 months, more than a dozen FFL holders have contacted our offices after several attempts to work with ATF agents to correct clerical errors and update practices and procedures,” the letter reads. “Our staffs have attempted to seek clarification from AFT agents regarding the business owners’ concerns and questions with zero response from the agency and field staff.”

The letter goes on to urge ATF Director Dettelbach and ATF agents to find ways to work with FFL holders to help fix clerical errors and help them understand how to accurately complete the forms, stating, “We should be encouraging legal arms sales, not punishing them.”

The letter ends by stating that “shuttering” these businesses limits access to firearms, destroys Main Street businesses, and in many cases, ends long-standing family-owned businesses.

You can read Sen. Marshall’s full letter here.