Silencer Shop Announces Post-41F Purchasing Program

For many suppressor enthusiasts, July 13 just got a lot less ominous. This afternoon, Pete, over at The Firearm Blog, dropped the details on Silencer Shop’s new program to equip dealers to handle the new ATF 41F requirements. Though I’ve known about Silencer Shop’s plan for quite a while (after all, they are Modern Rifleman’s largest partner), it is now safe to talk about it.

To comply with the fingerprinting requirements set forth (or more appropriately, expanded) by 41F, Silencer Shop is shipping specialized kiosks to 300 of its 1,700 Powered by Silencer Shop dealers. These kiosks will house the necessary equipment for dealers to electronically collect buyers’ fingerprints, which will then be securely transmitted to Silencer Shop for submission with the Form 4. Once received by Silencer Shop, the fingerprints will be kept in offline storage so that they may be used for subsequent acquisitions. After the first purchase and fingerprint submission, suppressor buyers should never have to resubmit fingerprints.

Silencer Shop also plans to release a mobile app that will allow users to take and submit the necessary passport-style photographs with each Form 4. Unfortunately, these photos must be refreshed every year, but doing so will be as simple as snapping a selfie and uploading it via the app.

For those who like more detailed steps, this is how the program shapes up:

1. Select a suppressor on SilencerShop.com.
2. Pick a local Powered by Silencer Shop dealer (preferably one with a kiosk).
3. Pay for the silencer and transfer tax.
4. Upload trust/corporation/LLC documents (not necessary for individual applications).
5. Receive QR code from Silencer Shop via email.
6. Take QR code to selected, kiosk-equipped dealer.
7. Complete fingerprints on the kiosk (the QR code ties the fingerprints to your account)
8. Upload your photo(s) to your account via the Silencer Shop mobile app.
9. Silencer Shop prints your fingerprints and photos using an FBI-approved printer and submits the Form 4 on behalf of your dealer (shortly after submitting the Form 3 to transfer the silencer to your dealer’s inventory).
10. Silencer Shop will notify your chief law enforcement officer of your purchase (ATF 41F requirement).
11. Wait on your purchase to be approved by the ATF. It’s best to forget about it for a few months.
12. Once approved, you pick up the suppressor from your local dealer.

Though it took me twelve steps to explain, the process is straightforward. After your first purchase, steps 4 through 8 can be ignored, assuming you make no changes to your trust though the passport photos will need to be updated each year.

For those who have multiple trustees, it will be simple to log into your account and add them. Once added, the trustees will receive QR codes that can be taken to kiosk-equipped dealers local to them to complete the fingerprint process. For folks who live excessively far from a kiosk, Silencer Shop will send paper versions of the FD-258 fingerprint forms. Once completed, buyers can mail these forms back to Silencer Shop, who will upload them to the database for future use.

Silencer Shop also plans to allow dealers to use the system for other NFA purchases within their stores. For example, if your dealer happens to have that SBR or SBS you’ve been lusting after, he/she can use the fingerprints and photos on file with Silencer Shop to complete the Form 4.

Look for further details on the system as we near July 13.