New Developments in Federal Law and Enforcement

The NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007

This presentation on the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (NIAA) briefly covers the origin and purpose of the Act. It will focus on the potential to restore state and/or federal firearm rights lost due to the application of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(4) - the mental health prohibitor. Topics covered include a summary of restoration program approval criteria and an update on the progress made by the states to comply with the Act.

WILLIAM L. FINCH, ESQ.
Assistant General Counsel
Office of the General Counsel
Federal Bureau of Investigation

Traps for the Unwary: Why Your Local Gunsmith May Unknowingly be a Manufacturer of Firearms -- and Why it Matters

Federal law distinguishes between gunsmithing and the manufacturing of firearms, and regulates the two differently. Yet the distinctions between the two activities, as defined by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, frequently are blurry, and it is easy for gunsmiths to inadvertently stray into the field of manufacturing. Two little-known federal laws, the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), add yet another layer of complexity and danger to the problem. ITAR imposes strict controls on the manufacture and export of "defense articles" -- a spectacularly broad term that includes "components, parts, accessories and attachments" for most firearms and related equipment. Mr. Bower's presentation will touch upon the highlights of these laws and their potential implications for gunsmiths.

MATTHEW H. BOWER, ESQ.
Assistant General Counsel, National Rifle Association of America