ATF Enforcement Act

To restore the ability of law enforcement authorities to enforce gun safety laws, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the ATF Enforcement Act 2. Elimination of Senate confirmation requirement for the appointment of the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Section 599A(a)(2) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate Attorney General, 3. Elimination of limitations relating to firearms trace data (a) Tiahrt amendments (1) The matter under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 112–55 (2) The 6th proviso under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 111–117 beginning in fiscal year 2010 and thereafter in fiscal year 2010 (3) The 6th proviso under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 111–8 beginning in fiscal year 2009 and thereafter in fiscal year 2009 (4) The 6th proviso under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 110–161 beginning in fiscal year 2008 and thereafter in fiscal year 2008 (5) The 6th proviso under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 109–108 with respect to any fiscal year (6) The 6th proviso under the heading in title I of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 ( 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 108–447 with respect to any fiscal year (b) Prohibition on use of firearms trace data To draw broad conclusions about firearms-Related crime (1) Section 514 of division B of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 ( 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 113–6 (2) Section 516 of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 ( Public Law 112–55 4. Elimination of prohibition on consolidation or centralization in the Department of Justice of firearms acquisition and disposition records maintained by Federal firearms licensees The matter under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 112–55 5. Elimination of prohibition on imposition of requirement that firearms dealers conduct physical check of firearms inventory The matter under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 113–6 6. Elimination of requirement that instant check records be destroyed within 24 hours Section 511 of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 ( 18 U.S.C. 922 Public Law 112–55 (1) by striking — (1) (2) by striking the semicolon and all that follows and inserting a period. 7. Elimination of prohibition on processing of Freedom of Information Act requests about arson or explosives incidents or firearm traces Section 644 of division J of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 ( 5 U.S.C. 552 Public Law 108–7 8. Elimination of prohibitions relating to curios or relics (a) Section 518 of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 ( Public Law 114–113 (b) The matter under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 921 Public Law 113–6 (c) Section 519 of division B of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 ( Public Law 113–6 9. Elimination of prohibition on denial of federal firearms license due to lack of business activity The matter under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 113–6 10. Elimination of prohibition on the transfer of the functions, missions, or activities of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to other agencies or departments The matter under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Salaries and Expenses Public Law 114–113 11. Elimination of prohibition on search computerized records of federally licensed firearms dealers who are out of business The matter under the heading Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—Salaries and Expenses 18 U.S.C. 923 Public Law 112–55 12. Elimination of prohibition on denying, or failing to act on, application to import certain shotgun models on the basis that the shotgun was not particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes Section 532 of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 ( Public Law 114–113

Summary: ATF Enforcement Act This bill amends the federal judicial code to require the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to be appointed by the Attorney General. Currently, the Director is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Additionally, it amends several appropriations laws to remove limitations on the ATF's authority to conduct activities related to the administration of federal firearms laws. The amended appropriations laws include: the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016; the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013; the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010; the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008; the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005; and the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003. The bill removes provisions from these laws that: prohibit the consolidation or centralization within the Department of Justice of firearm transfer records maintained by federal firearms licensees; prohibit the imposition of a requirement that firearms dealers conduct a physical inventory; require instant background check records to be destroyed within 24 hours; limit the use of firearms tracing data; limit the processing of Freedom of Information Act requests in connection with arson or explosive incidents or firearm traces; limit denials of applications to import "curios or relics" firearms, parts, or ammunition; prohibit denials of federal firearms licenses due to lack of business activity; prohibit the transfer of functions, missions, or activities to other agencies or departments; prohibit the search of electronic firearm transfer records of federally licensed gun dealers who go out of business; and prohibit denials of applications to import certain non-sporting shotguns.