End of registration period for unregistered USAS-12, Striker-12, and Streetsweeper shotguns

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) on February 9, 2001 announces the availability of ATF Ruling 2001-1. This ruling advises persons in possession of any "USAS-12," "Striker-12," and "Streetsweeper" model shotguns that the period for Federal registration of those firearms will expire on May 1, 2001.

These three high-capacity 12-gauge shotguns were classified by ATF in 1994 as "destructive devices" under the National Firearms Act (NFA), 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53. The classification was made because the weapons have bores of greater than one-half inch in diameter and are not generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes.

Unlike typical sporting firearms, which are not Federally registered, weapons which fall under NFA guidelines -- such as machine guns, "sawed-off" rifles and shotguns, and destructive devices -- are registered by ATF. These firearms also are subject to a transfer tax of $200 per weapon. Because ATF classified these three shotgun models as destructive devices retroactively, however, provisions were made for their owners to register the weapons without payment of tax.

Applications to register these firearms must be post marked no later than midnight, May 1, 2001. If an application to register one of those firearms is not post marked by May 1, 2001, the firearms can never be registered and will be considered contraband after that date. Persons in possession of any unregistered NFA firearm then will be in violation of law and will be subject to all applicable penalties under 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53. Penalties include forfeiture, as well as fines and/or imprisonment.

Copies of ATF Ruling 2001-1, as well as the proper forms to effect a legal registration and transfer of destructive devices, are available at no cost upon request from the National Firearms Act Branch, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 650 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20226. The ruling may also be viewed at ATF's web site at http//www.atf.treas.gov. For more information, call (202) 927-8330.