4473 and abbreviations

Every time I've filled out a 4473, I've been told no abbreviations.

Not sure. I know awhile back the ATF was doing audits of Firearm dealer's records and getting some dealers into big trouble for stupid things such as abbreviations on 4473's. Some were even getting their licenses revoked for more serious stuff. Im sure this dealer probably just didnt want to end up dealing with the same crap. Or he was audited?

Certain retailers have strict policies. The one time I bought a rifle at Dunham's, it was just as you described. The clerk even had a little cut out template to place over the 4473 to check my answers. Then all things being good to go, I waited for God knows how long for them to fax a request for sale to their corporate office and the inevitably delayed call back giving the go ahead. Never again.

I've had even the smallest of ffl's tell me no abbreviations. It sounds like something the atf is quite specific about.

I work in a gun store. I don't know if ATF requires it or not but our policy is NO abbreviations.
Having said that, I have accidentally not noticed when someone leaves out a middle name or initial and when it is called in the NICS never asks about it.

The 4473's are never sent to the ATF. They would only come into play if an agent came by to do a spot audit. In such a case you don't want anything left to chance, bad handwriting, etc.

ATF has been giving dealers a hard time about abbreviations. Help out you dealer by spelling it all out.

Those horrible "paperwork violations" that ATF uses to shut down dealers are mainly stupid things like that.

The 4473's are never sent to the ATF.

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Thats not exactly true... if you close your shop, you have to send the 4473's to the ATF.

Apparently it's a random thing. I was told "no abbreviations" about a year ago and since then I always ask if the particular dealer has had any trouble with ATF over this issue. Only one other dealer said they had been told this.

This is among at least 6 dealers in the Gulf Coast area.

Stryker60

I recently got an FFL and the ATF inspector told me no abbreviations other than 2 letter abbreviation for the state.

No abbreviations because the ATF want to make sure they get the right person's name put in the registry. I'm only half kidding

I think it's just another way for the ATF to give legit dealers grief. Honestly, who doesn't know TX means Texas and UT means Utah. It is just stupid. But every time I have bought a gun, I've been told "no abbreviations."

The BATFE is very much opposed to abbreviations of all kinds, which is why a rifle or shotgun barrel has a minimum length. Abbreviations are evil. They make the bureau just as angry as barrel shrouds make Carolyn McCarthy, and for exactly the same reason. It's a way to reduce crime.

I pretty much buy from 3 FFL's.
Every one is NO abrv.

AFS

Every gun I have bought is no abbreviations.

No abbreviations.

In the pharmaceutical plant that I used to work in, I had to deal with paperwork and audits by the FDA, DEA, and BATFE. Though the oversight by the BATFE on the business was very small compared to the other two agencies, the BATFE was by far the biggest PITA to deal with.

The BATFE is very much opposed to abbreviations of all kinds

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Like "BATFE," for instance?

I believe that ATF recently put out a letter or bulletin that said that the only abbreviations allowed on a 4473 were standard postal abbreviations. Things like CA, St, Ave, Dr, Apt, E, W, N, S, are allowed.

Edited to add: I have been looking for the document that allowed postal abbreviations but have not been able to locate it. I would take my post with a grain of salt, since I can't document my statement, although I believe it to be true.

I've been abbreviating for 20+ something years In that time I've had two small shops give a snot about abbreviations. They both have the "holier than thou, you're lucky to buy a gun from us, only we know the truth" attitude.

Beyond them, my regular shops in all the states I have lived in (New York, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania) or purchased guns (all those plus Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia) have never mentioned abbreviations. I do try and write legibly

I must live a clean life....

ABSOLUTELY FALSE!!!!!!! The BATFE DOES allow official postal abbreviations of states!

I used to enjoy purchasing while living in cities in Virginia.
Everyone wanted to know what county it was in.
Cities are NOT 'in' counties in Virginia, they are equal to counties.
I would simply put down the city name twice.

Believe me, I know about abbreviations. I go through the same nonsense every time a fill out the form because I have no middle name, just a middle initial.

While I have no idea what's actually permissible, I've been told "no abbreviations, period." Jamming the word "Pennsylvania" into the state slot on a 4473 turns out not to be as easy as it might seem.

Believe me, I know about abbreviations. I go through the same nonsense every time a fill out the form because I have no middle name, just a middle initial.

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Try not having a first OR middle name!!!!! Just initials that don't stand for anything..... People should really THINK before they name their children......

Try not having a first OR middle name

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I only know of one person with out a middle name. The marines had his name as Jack NMI Stecker. The NMI of course was for no middle initial.