Changes to CLEO Inform?

Candyman87 · Apr 19, 2018

I stopped in my Class III dealer today to make the last payment on my suppressor and start the paperwork. After digging around for about ten minutes they dug out a Form 4 packet and a Responsible Party Questionnaire.

As I was flipping through the packet, I noticed that Page 1 on the CLEO copy was on the back of Page 3 of the ATF Copy 2 - to be returned to registrant. I asked for a copy that was copied correctly as a copy that is sent to the CLEO cannot be returned to the registrant, and vice versa.

The dealer informed me that there was a new process in which all three copies were sent to the ATF and they send a copy to the CLEO in my jurisdiction. This just sounds fishy.

Then I started digging into the Form 4 instructions (noting that the form was updated since I last filled out a Form 4) but it appears the instructions are still the same:

Submission. The transferor shall submit 2 forms (ATF Copy 1 and Copy 2 (Registrant)) to the NFA Branch at the address on the face of the form. All items on the form are to be completed except as noted in the instructions and any attachment included with the submission. The applicant shall direct the 3rd copy (CLEO) complete copy of the form to the chief law enforcement officer as provided in instruction 2f and item 12.

I don't know about you, but this doesn't seem to match the instructions.

Has anyone heard of something like this? Last I sent in a Form 4, I sent two copies to the ATF, and mailed one to my Sheriff.

Theohazard · Apr 20, 2018

From day one of 41F (July 12, 2016, if I remember correctly), the official version of the Form 4 has printed out incorrectly. You’re supposed to print out the entire form with all three versions (ATF copy, ATF copy 2, and CLEO copy) double sided. But if you do, it ends up printing the first page of the CLEO copy on the back of the last page of the ATF copy 2.

Since the two ATF copies are supposed to be sent to the ATF and the CLEO copy is supposed to be sent to your CLEO, you need to print it out differently to make it work. Do this by selecting double-sided printing and then first print pages 1 to 9, then print pages 10 to 12 separately.

The guy at your dealer is wrong, nothing has changed in that regard. My guess is that he’s confused with the way the Form 4 prints out. Which means he’s new to this whole process sinces it’s printed out that way since July 2016.

But your dealer should be using the free Silencer Shop Form 4 Generator anyway. It’s idiot-proof and it also generates a scan code to make the ATF’s job easier (and faster — in theory).

Candyman87 · Apr 20, 2018

Theohazard said:
From day one of 41F (July 12, 2016, if I remember correctly), the official version of the Form 4 has printed out incorrectly. You’re supposed to print out the entire form with all three versions (ATF copy, ATF copy 2, and CLEO copy) double sided. But if you do, it ends up printing the first page of the CLEO copy on the back of the last page of the ATF copy 2.

Since the two ATF copies are supposed to be sent to the ATF and the CLEO copy is supposed to be sent to your CLEO, you need to print it out differently to make it work. Do this by selecting double-sided printing and then first print pages 1 to 9, then print pages 10 to 12 separately.

The guy at your dealer is wrong, nothing has changed in that regard. My guess is that he’s confused with the way the Form 4 prints out. Which means he’s new to this whole process sinces it’s printed out that way since July 2016.

That's what I thought... of course they tell me that things changed since the last time I did this (July 2017) which is true, the form was updated in September 2017. However, the process did not update.

I will be sending him a note highlighting this and my concerns. I'm not going to deal with a delay because my dealer thinks he knows better.

Spats McGee · Apr 21, 2018

So who does the CLEO notification? Transferor or transferee? Or does it matter?

Theohazard · Apr 21, 2018

Spats McGee said:
So who does the CLEO notification? Transferor or transferee? Or does it matter?

My previous shop gave the CLEO notification part to the customer for them to send to their CLEO. My current shop sends the CLEO notification in for the customer.

I don’t think it really matters as long as the form gets sent to the right place. The ATF seems to say the transferee should send it, but considering Silencer Shop sends in their customers’ CLEO notifications for them, I’d think if the biggest silencer retailer and distributor in the country was doing it incorrectly and advertising the fact, the ATF would say something.

Spats McGee · Apr 21, 2018

Theohazard said:
I’d think if the biggest silencer retailer and distributor in the country was doing it incorrectly and advertising the fact, the ATF would say something.

One would hope so.

Ryanxia · Apr 30, 2018

Maybe fill out one additional copy and send it to your CLEO yourself? If they get it twice shouldn't matter.

medalguy · Apr 30, 2018

That is what I have done. I'd rather the sheriff maybe get 2 copies rather than none.

Spats McGee · May 1, 2018

An excellent suggestion.

P226 · May 13, 2018

They are WRONG! Three separate pages,one and two go to ATF and three goes to your CLEO.
Either you or the shop can send page three to the CLEO, BUT ATF WILL NOT SEND IT TO YOUR CLEO !

Also remember it’s only notification they don’t get any photos,fingerprints or serial number. Don’t give them a copy of page two with the extra info on it since they were not entitled to it

Changes to CLEO Inform?

Candyman87

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Theohazard

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