# 2026-08922: Cracking Down on Straw Buys: ATF Targets Proxy Gun Purchases 2026-08922, Firearms Transactions and Straw Purchases, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Justice Department, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau published 2026-05-06, effective Comments must be submitted in writing, and must be submitted on or before (or, if mailed, must be postmarked on or before) August 4, 2026. Commenters should be aware that the federal e-rulemaking portal comment system will not accept comments after midnight Eastern Time on the last day of the comment period.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08922 - As of: 2026-06-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-08922 - Title: Firearms Transactions and Straw Purchases - Type: Proposed Rule - Agencies: Justice Department; Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau - Citation: 91 FR 24448 - Published: 2026-05-06 - Effective: Comments must be submitted in writing, and must be submitted on or before (or, if mailed, must be postmarked on or before) August 4, 2026. Commenters should be aware that the federal e-rulemaking portal comment system will not accept comments after midnight Eastern Time on the last day of the comment period. - Comments close: 2026-08-04 - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: 1140-AA78 - Last updated: 2026-06-11 ## In one line Cracking Down on Straw Buys: ATF Targets Proxy Gun Purchases ## Summary The ATF is proposing clearer rules to stop 'straw purchases,' where someone buys a gun for another person who can’t legally buy one. This affects gun buyers, sellers, and the whole firearms community by tightening the law to prevent illegal gun sales. You’ve got until August 4, 2026, to share your thoughts before these changes could roll out. ## Abstract The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes amending Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to provide clarity for conduct prohibited by federal law commonly referred to as a straw purchase. ## Effects PRIA read - Clear ban on straw purchases: benefit, low. The rule says you may not obtain a firearm from a licensed seller by acting as a "straw purchaser," and a licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector may not sell a firearm if they know or have reasonable cause to believe the buyer is a straw purchaser. This restates and clarifies existin… - Exceptions defined (gifts, parents, spouses): benefit, low. The rule lists specific situations that are not straw purchases: bona fide gifts (unless the purchaser accepts money or other value), purchases by a parent or guardian for a minor (a "minor" is defined as under age 21), purchases where one spouse pays and both spouses live at the same address, pawn… - No exceptions for prohibited-person purchases: benefit, medium. The rule makes clear that the exceptions in the rule (gifts, parental purchases, spouse purchases, pawn redemption, repair pickup, raffles, inheritance) do not apply when the purchase is made for a person who is prohibited from receiving a firearm under federal law or when the purchaser knows or ha… - FFL duty to refuse suspected straw buyers: cost, low. The rule explicitly requires licensed importers, manufacturers, dealers, and collectors to not sell or deliver a firearm when they know or have reasonable cause to believe the buyer is a straw purchaser. This places a clear onus on FFLs to refuse transfers in those circumstances. ## Related documents - [2026-19694](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19694): Annual Notices on Explosive Materials Storage Facilities to Local Fire Authority, 2026-09-25 - [2026-19693](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19693): Implementing the Safe Explosives Act, 2026-09-25 - [2026-16981](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16981): Application for Relief From Disabilities Imposed by Federal Laws With Respect to the Acquisition, Receipt, Transfer, Shipment, Transportati…, 2026-08-20 - [2026-13586](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13586): Registering NFA Firearms That Fall Out of Government Contract, 2026-07-06 - [2026-09160](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-09160): Implementing PATRIOT Act Improvements: Contraband Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco, 2026-05-08 - [2026-09155](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-09155): Changes to National Firearms Act Tax Remittance Provisions, 2026-05-08 ## Sources - [2026-08922 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/06/2026-08922/firearms-transactions-and-straw-purchases) - [2026-08922 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-05-06/pdf/2026-08922.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-08921, Adding Component Definitions Under the Arms Export Control Act](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08921) - [Next: 2026-08923, Clarifying Special (Occupational) Tax Payments Per Business Activity](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08923) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08922 (as of 2026-06-11).