J&G Sales, Ltd. of Prescott, Arizona filed suit in Washington, DC federal court yesterday challenging the “demand letter” requirement placed on firearms dealers in Arizona, New Mexico, California and Texas by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE). The letter requires the names and addresses and serial numbers of all purchases of more than one semi-automatic rifle, with a detachable magazine, over .22 caliber, within a five-day business period.
Set to go into effect on effective with any purchase made on August 14, 2011 and “going forward” the regulation requires new ATF form (3310.12) be completed and returned to the ATF. The lawsuit challenges the regulation on the grounds that the ATF and the Justice Department have no authority to institute regulations without Congressional authorization. J&G Sales has been joined in the suit by the National Rifle Association.
