Re: ATF to hire more examiners
RollingThunder...
what I don't think you understand is that I, and advocacy groups, don't really mind the BATF (NFA Branch) having "control" or a registry, nor do we really mind the tax...
what we have a HUGE problem with is the archaic system of "approval", just like you do...
what you and I disagree on specifically is a license or permit being the answer, first of all, it's unconstitutional (which is why we have a tax now, instead of a license)... and second, anyone who can legally purchase a pistol, can legally purchase a NFA item... so why don't we make purchasing said NFA item just like purchasing said pistol, simply add the tax like sales tax, and fill out the form 4 (since a national registry is also required by law, and the BATF will need the information for that registry)...
people seem to think that the 6+ month wait is the BATF doing some huge background check, basically it's your packet working to the top of the stack, so that they can semi manually do what a NICS check does in a couple of minutes... once it makes it to the top, it's done pretty quickly, if you ever get an error letter and resubmit whatever (including fingerprints or something the "need" to identify you) and watch it come back in a week, then spend another week in the mail room and USPS back to your dealer, you might understand that.
our position is that it's a tax, not a license, or even permission to own the item...
an FFL who chooses to pay the SOT and become a class 3 dealer, simply fills out the form and sends it in... the second they do that they are a class 3 dealer, the BATF will even tell them what is used as their ID # and that they can submit form 3s for approval (even though most other dealers will want a copy of the actual SOT, that takes around 3-4 weeks to arrive)...
so why should a personal item be any different, you're still just paying a tax... NICS has already given the dealer a "proceed" to sell you a firearm, fill out the form 4, send it off w/ $200... within say 24hrs "just like I have to on a multiple pistol purchase", and you've already got your item...
why do we ask that they be removed from the NFA then? the same reason a PD asks for $2,000,000 a year to run their department, they know they probably won't get what they ask for, so they ask for more, if they happen to get what they ask for...BONUS... same reason when people are selling stuff, they say "price "can always go down"