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New Gun Rule Bars Some Foreigners
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
New Gun Rule Bars Some Foreigners Wed Feb 6, 9:32 PM ET By JEANNINE AVERSA, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - The Bush administration has adopted a temporary rule barring certain foreign visitors, workers and students from buying guns or ammunition in the United States. While changes were under consideration for several years, the action by the Treasury Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was accelerated by the Sept. 11 terror attacks, government officials said.Under the temporary rule to take effect on Feb. 19, so-called nonimmigrant aliens, with some exceptions, would no longer be allowed to buy guns or ammunition in the United States, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.The exceptions are diplomats, foreign law enforcement officials and visiting dignitaries designated by the State Department.Falling under the definition of nonimmigrant aliens are people traveling temporarily to the United States for business or pleasure; people studying in the United States who maintain a residence abroad and certain foreign workers, officials said.The temporary rule doesn't apply to legal immigrants. And, people in the United States illegally are already forbidden from buying a gun in this country.The temporary rule will stay in effect until final regulations are adopted.In addition, the rule says that "any person who is not a United States citizen must include his or her INS-issued alien number or admission number on Form 4473," the form used for gun purchase background checks.That should help ensure that people whose visas have expired won't be able to buy a gun in this country, officials and a gun-safety group said."This is an important first step," said Matt Bennett, spokesman for Americans for Gun Safety.The rule also requires foreigners wanting to bring a gun into the United States for hunting or sporting purposes to first obtain a federal permit through the ATF, something that will allow the government to better track such guns, one official said. Currently, foreigners can bring a gun into this country for hunting and sporting purposes without a ATF permit as long as they satisfy U.S. Customs Service agents.The temporary rule seeks to clarify ATF's implementation of a 1998 law that addressed certain foreigners' access of firearms in the United States.___On the Net: ATF web site: http://www.atf.treas.gov/