As you’ve probably seen, an open letter from the ATF has been released changing the way the ATF approaches Suppressors, SBR’s, SBS’s and AOWs. While this is a huge win for the gun community, there is still a few things to keep in mind.

• This does not override any state regulations and the ATF is maintaining the form 1-4 process in order to support those states who require it by law.

  • Washington RCW states suppressors must be registered in accordance with federal law. Therefor we are still running Form 4 applications.

    • while this sounds like a negative here’s the benefit: The feds still classify Suppressors as “firearms” and with how Washington law is now, if we did a regular 4473 background check on them, they would have to go through the 10 day waiting period and have a $35 fee attached to it. While, form 4 submissions are often time getting approved within a couple of days to a week, so frankly you get your can way quicker this way.

  • SBRs however in the Washington RCWs, are only required to be in compliance with federal law to own. Meaning if you already had an AR pistol or some form of carbine like item with a pistol brace on it, and you want to slap a stock and a foregrip on there, you should be in the clear without a form 1 (in our opinion).

    • Note that this does NOT mean you can now order any semi auto SBR and pick it up like any other gun, the Assault Weapons Ban is still in affect blocking you from obtaining any new Semi-Auto SBR’s. It just allows you to put put shorter barrels or stocks or SBR-ish things on the owns you already own.

  • Short Barrel Shotguns are not affected as they are already banned by Washington state RCWs.

  • AOW’s should be able to be purchased like other firearms now, as Washington state has no specified categorization for such.

• The bummer side of things is that in Washington state, we typically have rather reactive legislatures. We expect they are going to try and ban suppressors outright in the upcoming year. SO NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY. No extra fees on purchase and insanely fast approval times, if you’ve been waiting to get one, get on it!

  Over all this is a huge win for the Gun Community and we still have fingers crossed for the supreme court striking down assault weapons bans this year. Good things are happening!