Contact:
Public Information Officer Ashlee Sherrill
651-587-3368
www.atf.gov
EAU CLAIRE, Wisconsin — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives hosted an educational seminar for federal firearms licensees (FFLs) June 5 at the Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire.
More than 65 firearms licensees and their staff members attended the event to learn more about the ATF inspection process, proper record keeping, burglary trends and civil liability. The invite went out to 39 counties in northwestern Wisconsin.
“It’s great to see today’s turn-out,” said Director of Industry Operations Hans Hummel, who is responsible for regulatory operations of ATF’s Saint Paul Field Division. “It demonstrates that local FFLs take community safety seriously. FFLs are the front-line defense to ensuring that firearms do not fall into the wrong hands, which is why their compliance with federal regulation is so important.”
“Partnering with firearms dealers is a critical element in keeping our communities safe,” continued Hummel. “We want to ensure licensees understand the record-keeping requirements and storefront security recommendations as well as the many other resources available to them.”
ATF presenters fielded many questions from attendees. Topics ranged from inspections and record keeping to background checks and storefront security.
“This particular area of Wisconsin hasn’t seen many gun store burglaries,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joel Lee, of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. “However, with the recent uptick in other areas of the state, it’s still important licensees are aware of inventory protection measures. When firearms are stolen, they often turn up at crime scenes. We want licensees to be equipped with the best knowledge on how to prevent selling to prohibited people or becoming a victim of a burglary attempt.”
ATF industry operations investigators conduct inspections of licensees to ensure compliance with the law and regulations. During inspections, investigators suggest voluntary measures that licensees can take to improve compliance with federal laws.
ATF is the lead federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction involving firearms and violent crimes, and regulates the firearm industry. More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.
FAST FACTS:
· Seven burglaries were reported within Wisconsin in 2017 (ATF theft/loss report).
· As of May 2018, there are nearly 2,000 (1,834) licensees in the state of Wisconsin.
· There are nine different firearms license types (see infographic here for listing).
· There are 817 industry operations investigators nationwide (infographic).