ATF seeks comments on police firearm purchase certification letter
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This notice keeps in place, with a revision, the certification letter process that law enforcement officers use when buying firearms for official duty. Officers must provide federally licensed firearm dealers with a supervisor’s letter confirming the firearm is for official duties and that a records check shows no misdemeanor domestic violence conviction. The practical change is administrative. ATF is updating the estimated labor cost tied to the letter because the hourly wage estimate for first-line police and detective supervisors rose from $46 to $71. The number of expected respondents stays at 50,000, with about 8 minutes per response. Public comments are open until June 5, 2026.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- ATF is asking for 30-day public comments on renewing and revising the certification letter collection.
- Law enforcement officers buying official-duty firearms must continue using a supervisor certification letter.
- The estimated hourly wage used to value respondent time rises from $46 to $71, while respondent count and response time stay the same.
Obligations
What this law requires
Law enforcement officers purchasing firearms for official duties must provide the federally licensed firearms dealer with certification information showing they have not been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
A law enforcement officer may submit a supervisor letter certifying that the officer may purchase an official-duty firearm under 27 CFR 478.134.
The certification letter for an official-duty firearm purchase must be printed on agency letterhead.
The certification letter must be signed by a person in authority with the agency other than the officer purchasing the firearm.
The certification letter must state that the firearm will be used for official duties.