You may have read our earlier post regarding gun laws in Florida in advance or Hurricane Irma’s landfall. Of particular note were Bennet Richt’s warnings concerning NFA items carried across state lines. The ATF has just issued the following alert to FFLs in the path of Irma, addressing some of these points:
This is an important message from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center has forecasted Hurricane Irma as a major hurricane having an extensive impact in Florida.
While it is still too early to determine what other impacts Hurricane Irma may have, a disaster preparedness plan should be established by all firearms and explosives licensees and permittees to safeguard explosives, firearms, and required records. Please secure your firearms and explosives inventory and move records to elevated areas to prevent damage from flooding.
If necessary, licensees and permittees should take precautionary steps by contacting their local ATF field office. If you are an NFA dealer and are evacuating and want to take NFA Items with you, please e-mail a completed form 5320.20 to nfafax@atf.gov and put HURRICANE IRMA in the heading. ATF will approve them as quickly as possible.
You do not need to wait for approval, but taxpayers should keep a copy of the submitted form 5320.20 with the original registration documents either form 1 or form 4 and confirmation that it was submitted to the fax line.