Proposed rule · 2026-08919

Revising Regulations Defining “Engaged in the Business” as a Dealer in Firearms

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") is proposing to revise regulations implementing the "engaged in the business" definition from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act ("BSCA"). Although Congress defined that term in BSCA, the Department of Justice ("Department") provided additional definitions in its implementing regulations to further define terms within the statutory definition and to include examples of covered activities that established rebuttable presumptions of being engaged in the business of dealing in firearms. This rule proposes to remove those changes. ATF has determined that the changes have not shown the expected impact on federal firearms licensee applications, administrative licensing actions, civil forfeitures, or other anticipated effects.