What If the ATF Gets Absorbed? Here’s What It Could Mean for Gun Dealers

Author: Andrew Petty

Hey folks, Andrew here from BTO Range in Conroe, Texas. Tara and I sat down recently to talk about something that’s been making the rounds in industry chatter and it’s not a new gun or accessory. We’re talking about the ATF. Or more specifically, what could happen if the ATF gets absorbed into another federal agency like the DEA.

I know, I know—cue the internet comments: “ATF should be a convenience store.” Trust me, I get it. No one’s saying the ATF hasn’t overstepped in the past. But we also have to operate in reality, and right now, that reality is that the ATF isn’t just vanishing into thin air.

So let’s talk through what this could actually mean for dealers, new FFLs, and even customers.

ATF Absorption: What Are We Even Talking About?

There are bills floating around that aim to abolish the ATF altogether. Realistically? Not likely. What’s more plausible is a merger or absorption—ATF roles getting divvied up between other agencies like the DEA or FBI.

But here’s the kicker: The ATF isn’t just one kind of agent. You’ve got Special Agents—those are the badge-and-gun folks doing criminal investigations. Then you’ve got IOIs (Industry Operations Investigators). Those are the ones handling FFL licensing, audits, and compliance stuff. Two very different jobs.

If the ATF gets absorbed, Special Agents would likely keep doing their thing. But what happens to IOIs? That’s the big question.

The Dealer Side of It

Let’s say you run a gun store. If IOIs go away or get reassigned, who’s left to do compliance audits? Special Agents? Maybe, but they’ve already got full caseloads and they’re not trained for that kind of work.

That could mean fewer audits overall, unless you’re on the radar (read: one of your guns shows up at a crime scene or border crossing). In that case, you’re not just dealing with paperwork. Now you’ve got a full-blown investigation on your hands.

And new FFLs? That’s another issue. IOIs currently walk folks through the licensing process. If they disappear, expect delays. It already takes around 90 days to get an FFL. That could stretch out a lot longer.

The NFA Angle

Suppressor folks, listen up. The NFA process sped up recently thanks to eForms and new hires. If ATF funding gets slashed, those gains could vanish. Wait times that used to take a year are now measured in days or weeks. We don’t want to see those times creep back up.

There’s talk that suppressors might get removed from the NFA entirely. But there’s no guarantee. As of right now, it’s just speculation, tied up in larger tax reform packages with no clear path.

What Dealers Should Do Right Now

Educate yourselves. Don’t rely on someone else to keep you out of trouble. A lot of dealers still don’t know that the contiguous state rule for long gun sales was scrapped in 1986. That’s nearly 40 years ago.

There are some good resources out there like Rocket FFL, Orchid Advisors, and FFL University. But most of them want to sell you software. There’s room in the market for real, boots-on-the-ground training that teaches best practices tailored to your shop.

What This Means for the Average Customer

Short answer: not much, unless you’re buying NFA items. Your Form 4473 isn’t going away. Prices aren’t likely to spike just because of agency reshuffling. But if dealers get hit with more audits—or more confusion—that could eventually trickle down to the counter.

So no, this isn’t a political rant. It’s not pro-ATF or anti-ATF. It’s just a look at how these potential changes could shake out in the real world, where we run businesses and follow rules whether we like them or not.

Got questions? Shoot us an email or come talk to us at the shop. We’re all figuring this out in real time.

—Andrew