The Department of Justice announced a new rule to enable the safe and secure storage of firearms and published a Best Practices Guide for federal firearms licensees (FFLs). This rule implements the Gun Control Act requirement that federal firearms licensees who sell firearms to the general public must certify that they have available secure gun storage or safety devices. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Best Practices Guide for FFLs is a resource guide about federal laws and regulations. “Today’s announcements build on the department’s efforts to reduce the risk of firearms falling into the wrong hands,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Gun safety is a Department of Justice priority, and we will continue to take all appropriate steps to help reduce the number of people killed and injured by the misuse of firearms.”
The rule is scheduled to take effect Feb. 3. Secure gun storage or safety device includes a safe, gun safe, gun case, lock box or other device that can be used to store a firearm and that is designed to be unlocked only by means of a key, a combination or other similar means. Not all devices are compatible with varying types of firearms. DOJ said that integral to the new rule is the requirement that FFLs have available secure gun storage options that are compatible with the firearms they are selling.