CLEO Signoff Going Away per ATF?

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OH so basically u send one completed form to the ATF and the second to your CLEO? Rather than obtaining a signature and then sending it off.
 
That's the idea. I certainly hope that it gets the nod because my CLEO doesn't grant requests for NFA items (but I will eventually set up a trust if all else fails). :cuss:
 
I certainally hope so. my local leo has become a complete pc a wipe. giving me a lecture about harrassing his staff for calling on forms . Since they lost them and found. 3 months now way over days allotted to process and refusing to return. nor give good reason waiting on call back from atf and local state police maybe they can light up his oc but and make give back. going to do trust i guess so can bypass this b.s.
worried about damage local community would suffer ? *** FOR A SBR ?
When i have an issue suppressed m-4 at work.:banghead::cuss::fire:

up date finally got a person on phone. Wanted to know why needed it and was then told had to have there { leo departments } permission to own or buy. ugh nope you can't give me permission only say if have record or criminal . I hate election change overs people get in and don;t know laws or job. refuse to learn and follow them. thinely vealed contempt exhibited by leo heads for wanting them to either process forms or return them surely attitudes when trying to keep them from jail acts like they are beneath talking to me.
 
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I certainly hope this passes as well, Illinois only allows AOW's, and the thought of being able to add a forward pistol grip to an AR-pistol and possibly building my own pen-gun is tempting. This would really benefit people like myself that don't have $600+ to organize a well-written trust.
 
I had a converstaion with a couple of ATF Agents a couple of months ago.. I asked them about difficulties in obtaining the proper licensing and paperwork for a suppressor.. they were actually quite nice and helpful.. They indicated to me that the CLEO sign off would NOT be required... but it still takes awhile to get it through the Federal process.. I have not started the process, but I expect to sometime in the near future...

Maybe the rumor is true...?

As far a CLEO sign off in my area, all the area chiefs got together many years ago and just came out with a joint multi-county wide policy, no ATF, Class III/NFA sign-offs period, even for LEO's....

However I have several friends who lately have bought Class III guns and were advised by the dealers that handled the transfers for them, to 1st go get a refusal from their CLEO, and demand the refusal in writing... then they were given what amounts to a form letter supplied by the dealer, and basically threaten them with legal action for denying them a Constitutional right guaranteed and allowed under Federal law... This they returned to their CLEO, who readily signed the ATF forms and they got their guns... Seems as though this got them off the hook within the long standing agreement... This was in Brazoria County I do believe..

I know that when I bought my 1st Machine Gun in the late 70's our chief would not, no way in heck sign even for his own officers... so we went to a LE friendly Federal Judge, whose only reply when asked was, "for you Boys, anything, where do I sign?"

We later got a Class III license through our gun shop, and transferred several more to ourselves as the owners of the shop, and when we closed up shop and surrendered our license, we were able to retain "Dealer Samples"... I kept them for many years until the price of transferable guns wet so high I cashed in on the profits...
 
Thats a good thought /idea you got about going to the judge haha. You're not too far from me. I wonder if the CLEO in Houston is like that.
 
What do you mean as a rule, 2 sheriff's ,2 sign offs for me... Where's the rule?
 
The Sheriff is often an elected official, the Police Chief is not. Depending on the sentiments of the area's voters (pro- or anti-gun), the Sheriff may be more (or less) likely to sign. We have a situation in Fairfax County, Virginia, where the Sheriff is the go-to guy for CLEO signoffs. He's actually established a procedure (with application forms available over the Internet) of conducting his own independent background investigation through designated people in his office. But he's pretty reasonable about it. This is somewhat surprising, since the area is generally antigun. I guess that one explanation for that is that, with the high prices of NFA items (especially machine guns), he realizes that he's dealing with a very affluent and influential segment of the population (think potential campaign contributions).

Nevertheless, it would be better if we could just dispense with the CLEO signoff requirement altogether. It does nothing that the ATF's own clearance process doesn't do.
 
Oh trust me, I know... That's bs that they can stop you from what you are federally allowed...
 
No Chief LEO signature on a Form 1???

So I called my local police department last week to get the Chief LEO's signature and they finally called back today ( thanksgiving break for them too) and the man who handles these applications told me I didn't need the Deprtments signature!?!? He told me to send it in as is with everything else completed minus the signature and it would be ok?? Has anyone encountered this before?:confused: Won't the ATF just bounce it back to me?
 
Have you considered setting up a NFA trust for such items? I know that you do not need the CLEO sig in that instance.
 
They might be confusing it with an FFL application. Applicants are required to provide the CLEO with a copy of their FFL application, but the CLEO does not sign.

Yes, your Form 1 does require a CLEO signature, and it won't be processed without it. However, this does not mean that your CLEO must sign it. He can simply refuse to do so, if he wishes.

This is one reason people set up NFA trusts; no CLEO signature is needed.
 
Sam I remember that from a while back and went and read it again. Did it officially become true that you no longer need CLEO signoff on form 1's or form 4's?

According to what i'm finding over at the ATF's website you still need signature.

Q: Is the chief law enforcement officer required to sign the law enforcement certification on ATF Form 1 or ATF Form 4?

No, law enforcement officers can be compelled to sign the law enforcement certification under Federal or State law. However, ATF will not approve an application to make or transfer a firearm on ATF Forms 1 or 4 unless the law enforcement certification is completed by an acceptable law enforcement official who has signed the certification in the space indicated on the form.
Click to expand...

Edit : linky to the above i quoted http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/national-firearms-act-firearms.html
 
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Actually I don't know. I'd not be surprised that the ATF hasn't updated their website...but I haven't seen an official notice either. Perhaps Bubbles or one of our other SOT3 members can share anything they've heard on the subject.
 
Sooo I called the ATF this morning and spoke to a lady who confirmed that you do still need the CLEO to sign off of your Form 1's & 4's.. I don't know why that guy is telling me I don't.

Does your local department have to do a background check before the CLEO signs off? Or is it just a authorization type deal? The man I am corresponding with thinks its a background check and wants the ATF to do it.. But I know that is not correct
 
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Unfortunately she hadn't, she just said fairly adamantly it is still a must or the forms will be sent back
 
Sooo I called the ATF this morning and spoke to a lady who confirmed that you do still need the CLEO to sign off of your Form 1's & 4's.. I don't know why that guy is telling me I don't.
Click to expand...
Because he doesn't have a clue what he is talking about.

Does your local department have to do a background check before the CLEO signs off? Or is it just a authorization type deal?
Click to expand...
If he'd just read the CLEO certification, he'd know: "I have no information indicating that the maker will use the firearm or device described on this application for other than lawful purposes. I have no information that Possession of the Firearm described in Item 4 on the Front of this Form would place the maker in Violation of State or Local Law."
 
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