Defining “Willfully” for Firearms Violations

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives 27 CFR Part 478 [Docket No. ATF-2026-0265 ATF 2025R-47P] RIN 1140-AA88 AGENCY: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Department of Justice. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) proposes to define the term “willfully” in Department of Justice (“Department”) regulations that implement the Gun Control Act. DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing, and must be submitted on or before (or, if mailed, must be postmarked on or before) August 6, 2026. Commenters should be aware that the federal e-rulemaking portal comment system will not accept comments after midnight Eastern Time on the last day of the comment period. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 1140-AA88, by either of the following methods— Federal e-rulemaking portal: https://www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Mail: ATF Rulemaking Comments; Mail Stop 6N-518, Office of Regulatory Affairs; Enforcement Programs and Services; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; 99 New York Ave NE; Washington, DC 20226; ATTN: RIN 1140-AA88. Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and number (RIN 1140-AA88) for this notice of proposed rulemaking (“NPRM” or “proposed rule”). ATF may post all properly completed comments it rec…