The Washington Post reports a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to bar requiring gun store owners in the Southwest U.S. to report multiple rifle sales. U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer said Jan. 13 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives properly limited the rule to purchasers of two or more semi-auto rifles greater than .22 caliber in five days in California, Arizona, New Mexico or Texas. In response, The National Shooting Sports Foundation issued the following statement: “The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is, of course, disappointed by today’s ruling. We respectfully disagree with the court’s reasoning which places our industry on a ‘slippery slope.’ Today’s ruling will allow ATF to demand whatever information it wants from any law-abiding retailer anywhere in the country for any reason ATF wants simply by sending a letter demanding information. While we understand ATF’s motivation is to try to curtail violence in Mexico, Congress simply has not granted ATF regulatory carte blanche. NSSF looks forward to having the Court of Appeals review the district court’s flawed decision. “Our industry abhors the criminal misuse of firearms, whether on the streets of El Paso, Texas, or in Juarez, Mexico. Notwithstanding our forthcoming appeal, NSSF is continuing to encourage all retailers — not just those along the border — to cooperate with law enforcement and report any suspicious activity to the ATF. Members of the firearms industry take great pride in their longstanding cooperative relationship with ATF. Retailers have long been considered by ATF to be a vital source of information for law enforcement in combating illegal firearms trafficking.”
