Inspection Reports by Violation
ATF inspections ensure that federal firearms licensees are compliant with the Gun Control Act, which lays out regulations for the firearms industry. Where not otherwise noted, regulations fall under Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
The definitions provided here are summaries. Please refer to the links for the full text of the regulations.
In this table, report count refers to the number of inspections in the database where this violation was cited.
| Violation | Description | Report count |
|---|---|---|
| 478.124(c)(1) | Failure to obtain a Form 4473 showing the transferee's name, sex, address, date and place of birth, and other required information. 🔗 | 1,137 |
| 478.21(a) | Failure to provide all of the information called for in required forms. 🔗 | 1,096 |
| 478.125(e) | Failure by a dealer to properly maintain a record of the receipt and disposition of firearms. 🔗 | 1,004 |
| 478.124(c)(3)(iv) | Failure to record the date NICS was contacted and the NICS response on Form 4473. 🔗 | 884 |
| 478.126a | Failure to report the sale of two or more pistols or revolvers to an individual during five consecutive business days. 🔗 | 857 |
| 478.124(c)(3)(i) | Failure to obtain identification from a transferee or document it on Form 4473. 🔗 | 806 |
| 478.124(c)(5) | Failure of the licensee to sign or date a Form 4473. 🔗 | 763 |
| 478.124(c)(4) | Failure to record on Form 4473 the manufacturer, importer, type, model, caliber or gauge, and serial number of the firearm being transferred. 🔗 | 460 |
| 478.102(a) | Failure to conduct or complete a NICS check before transferring a firearm. 🔗 | 329 |
| 478.99(c) | Sale or transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person. 🔗 | 180 |
| 478.124(a) | Failure to record the transfer of a firearm on a Form 4473. 🔗 | 172 |
| 478.123(a) | Failure by a manufacturer to maintain an accurate record of firearms manufactured or acquired. 🔗 | 171 |
| 478.129(b) | Failure to retain Forms 4473 for the required duration of time. 🔗 | 158 |
| 478.123(d) | Failure by a manufacturer to maintain an accurate record of dispositions to non-licensees. 🔗 | 154 |
| 478.131(a)(2) | Failure to retain a copy of a purchaser's permit or license for a background check-exempt transaction. 🔗 | 116 |
| 478.123(b) | Failure by a manufacturer to maintain an accurate record of dispositions to other licensees. 🔗 | 114 |
| 478.102(c) | Failure to initiate a new background check after more than 30 days have elapsed from the initial check. 🔗 | 88 |
| 18 USC 923(g)(5)(A) | Failure to submit record information required by the Attorney General. (This citation is often used to enforce the requirement for licensees in Southwest border states to report multiple sales of semi-automatic rifles.) 🔗 | 86 |
| 478.99(a) | Sale or delivery of a firearm other than a long gun to an out-of-state resident. 🔗 | 86 |
| 478.124(b) | Failure to maintain ordered records of all Forms 4473. 🔗 | 61 |
| 478.102(a)(1) | Failure to contact NICS before completing a firearm transfer. 🔗 | 51 |
| 478.39a | Failure to appropriately report the theft or loss of a firearm from a licensee's inventory. 🔗 | 49 |
| 478.102(a)(2)(ii) | Transferring a firearm before three business days have elapsed from the date that the licensee contacted NICS. 🔗 | 47 |
| 478.124(c)(3)(iii) | Failure to obtain required documentation showing an exception to the prohibition on transfers to nonimmigrant aliens. 🔗 | 34 |
| 478.128(c) | False statement or representation by a licensee regarding any information or records required by the Gun Control Act. This carries a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and/or one year imprisonment. 🔗 | 34 |
| 478.92(a)(1) | Failure by a manufacturer or importer to mark frames or receivers with required information. 🔗 | 21 |
| 478.121(a) | Failure to maintain records at the licensed premises and for the required length of time. 🔗 | 21 |
| 478.92(a)(1)(ii)(C) | Failure by a manufacturer or importer to mark frames or receivers with its name and the name of the foreign manufacturer if applicable. 🔗 | 19 |
| 478.50 | Conducting business at a location away from the licensed premises. 🔗 | 19 |
| 478.99(c)(9) | Sale or transfer of a firearm or ammunition to a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. 🔗 | 19 |
| 478.92(a)(1)(ii)(D) | Failure by a manufacturer or importer to mark frames or receivers with the city and state where the manufacturer is located. 🔗 | 17 |
| 479.103 | Failure to properly file a Notice of Firearms Manufactured or Imported no later than the close of the next business day after the firearms were manufactured. 🔗 | 15 |
| 478.99(b) | Sale or delivery of a firearm to a person who is underaged or prohibited from possessing it under state law. 🔗 | 15 |
| 478.99(c)(1) | Sale or delivery of a firearm or ammunition to a person who is under indictment for or has been convicted of a crime punishable by a prison term greater than one year. 🔗 | 14 |
| 478.103(d) | Failure to post a Youth Handgun Safety Act sign on the premises. 🔗 | 14 |
| 478.99(b)(2) | Sale or delivery of a firearm to a person who is prohibited from possessing it under state law. 🔗 | 14 |
| 478.121(c) | Knowingly making false entries in the acquisition and disposition record. 🔗 | 13 |
| 478.52(a) | Failure by a licensee to file an Application for an Amended Federal Firearms License within 30 days before moving the business to a location. 🔗 | 13 |
| 478.54 | Failure to give written notification of a change of control in a corporation or association that holds a license. 🔗 | 12 |
| 478.103(a) | Failure to provide a Youth Handgun Safety Act notice to each handgun purchaser. 🔗 | 12 |
| 479.102(a)(2) | Failure by a manufacturer or importer of NFA firearms to mark frames or receivers with information including the model, caliber, and the manufacturer and/or importer's name and location. 🔗 | 11 |
| 478.100(a)(1) | Conducting business away from the licensed premises. 🔗 | 11 |
| 478.41(a) | Failure to obtain a license before commencing business as an importer, manufacturer, or dealer. 🔗 | 11 |
| 479.131 | Failure by a manufacturer, importer, or dealer of NFA firearms to maintain records regarding the manufacture, importation, acquisition, receipt, and disposition of firearms as required, or to maintain a chronological record consisting of documents showing the registration of any firearms to the licensee. 🔗 | 11 |
| 478.122(b) | Failure by an importer to maintain an accurate record of dispositions to other licensees. 🔗 | 9 |
| 478.122(a) | Failure by an importer to maintain an accurate acquisition record. 🔗 | 8 |
| 478.122(d) | Failure by an importer to maintain an accurate record of dispositions to non-licensees. 🔗 | 7 |
| 18 USC 922(z) | Failure to provide a secure gun storage or safety device when selling or transferring a handgun. 🔗 | 7 |
| 478.92(a)(1)(i) | Failure by a manufacturer or importer to mark frames or receivers with serial numbers. 🔗 | 7 |
| 478.92(a)(1)(ii) | Failure by a manufacturer or importer to mark the frame, receiver, or barrel with information including the model, caliber, and the manufacturer and/or importer's name and location. 🔗 | 6 |
| 478.128(a) | False statement or representation by a person when applying for a license. This carries a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine and/or five years imprisonment. 🔗 | 6 |
| 478.103(c) | Failure to provide a Youth Handgun Safety Act notice to each handgun purchaser. 🔗 | 6 |
| 28 CFR 25.6(a) | Initiating a NICS background check for a purpose other than a proposed firearm transfer. 🔗 | 6 |
| 478.41(b) | Failure to file an application before engaging in firearms business. 🔗 | 6 |
| 478.125a | Failure to properly maintain a personal firearms collection. 🔗 | 5 |
| 478.58 | Conducting business or activity in violation of state or other law. 🔗 | 5 |
| 478.99(c)(5) | Sale or delivery of a firearm or ammunition to a person who is an alien illegally in the United States. 🔗 | 5 |
| 26 USC 5861(d) | Receiving or possessing a machine gun or other restricted firearm not registered under the National Firearms Act. 🔗 | 5 |
| 478.102 | Violations related to background checks. 🔗 | 5 |
| 478.123(c) | Failure by a manufacturer to properly employ an alternate recordkeeping system. 🔗 | 4 |
| 478.34 | Knowingly transporting or receiving in interstate or foreign commerce a firearm which has had the serial number removed or altered. 🔗 | 4 |
| 478.99(b)(1) | Selling or delivering a firearm or ammunition to an underaged person. 🔗 | 4 |
| 478.23(b) | Failure to grant an ATF officer entry or access to the premises during business hours. 🔗 | 4 |
| 478.53 | Failure to receive endorsement from the ATF within 30 days of changing the trade name of the business. 🔗 | 4 |
| 478.22(a) | Using an alternate method or procedure without specific approval. 🔗 | 4 |
| 478.25a | Failure to immediately respond to a request for information from an ATF officer at the National Tracing Center. 🔗 | 4 |
| 478.125(h) | Maintaining alternate records improperly or without approval. 🔗 | 4 |
| 478.102(a)(2)(i) | Transferring a firearm before receiving a NICS response. 🔗 | 4 |
| 478.128(b) | False statement or representation by a person other than a licensee. This carries a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine and/or five years imprisonment. 🔗 | 3 |
| 478.102(d)(1) | Accepting an invalid permit or license in lieu of a background check. 🔗 | 3 |
| 479.31(a) | Failure of an importer, manufacturer, or dealer of NFA firearms to pay a special tax rate. 🔗 | 3 |
| 478.124(e) | Failure to collect information as required when loaning or renting a firearm to an out-of-state resident for sporting purposes. 🔗 | 3 |
| 479.102(a) | Failure by a manufacturer or importer of NFA firearms to properly mark the firearms. 🔗 | 3 |
| 478.96(c)(1)(iv) | Selling or delivering a rifle or shotgun to an out-of-state resident in violation of state law. 🔗 | 3 |
| 478.99(c)(6) | Sale or delivery of a firearm or ammunition to a person who has been dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces. 🔗 | 3 |
| 478.121(b) | Failure to make required records available to ATF officers for examination or inspection. 🔗 | 3 |
| 478.103(b) | Failure to provide a Youth Handgun Safety Act notice to each handgun purchaser. 🔗 | 3 |
| 478.91 | Failure to post the license or make it available for inspection. 🔗 | 3 |
| 478.100(c) | Failure to maintain records as required when conducting business away from the licensed premises. 🔗 | 3 |
| 478.125a(a)(4) | Failure to maintain proper records of the sale of firearms from a personal collection. 🔗 | 2 |
| 18 USC 922(m) | Falsification of or failure to properly maintain required records. 🔗 | 2 |
| 478.129(e) | 🔗 | 2 |
| 478.123 | Violations related to manufacturer recordkeeping. 🔗 | 2 |
| 478.94 | Improperly selling firearms to another licensee. 🔗 | 2 |
| 478.124 | Violations related to transaction records. 🔗 | 2 |
| 478.57(a) | Failure to provide notice of discontinuance of business. 🔗 | 2 |
| 478.102(a)(3) | Failure to verify the identity of the transferee. 🔗 | 2 |
| 478.102(d)(1)(ii) | Accepting an invalid permit or license in lieu of a background check. 🔗 | 2 |
| 478.36(a) | Improperly transferring or possessing a machine gun. 🔗 | 2 |
| 478.99(a)(1) | Sale or delivery of a firearm other than a long gun to an out-of-state resident. 🔗 | 2 |
| 18 USC 1001 | Willfully making false or fraudulent statements regarding any matter within the jurisdiction of the federal government. 🔗 | 2 |
| 479.84 | Improperly transferring an NFA firearm. 🔗 | 2 |
Source: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. About the data »