from today's federal register--ffl authority

[longlane]

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-13392.htm
This entry into the register declares and records the now fact that the Director of the ATF has the authority to deny or suspend a Federal Firearms License (FFL), and that he/she may also revoke an ffl or impose a civil fine in cases of misdeed/rule-breaking. So, now one individual has collective authority (consolidated power). Why? To simplify and make procedures more efficient. This notice is worth a read. No need for tinfoil hats; just an interesting and important to note shift/concentration of power. Goes into effect August 2nd 2010.

[EOD Guy]

It's done that way because Congress grants the power to the Attorney General, who deligates to the Chief of BATF. This is true for every thing, not just this one item. The Director, in turn, delegates these powers downward. He may reserve some decisions for himself.

This is just a normal administrative clean up that has to be published in the Federal Register so that it can be known to the public. There are hundreds of Federal Register entries every day and the vast majority are routine administrative matters, such as re-approval of a from.

[Don H]

I don't believe this is a change in policy at all. Revocation, suspension, fines, etc., of FFLs has been an administrative function for years.

[carguychris]

It's done that way because Congress grants the power to the Attorney General, who deligates to the Chief of BATF. This is true for every thing, not just this one item. The Director, in turn, delegates these powers downward. He may reserve some decisions for himself.

+1. It's worth explaining to the uninitiated that government regulations are often phrased to say that "The Director" of an agency has the responsibility to do certain things, but in practice, this means is that the director may delegate the job to whomever he or she chooses, which is usually done with the vast majority of ordinary administrative tasks.

The only change I see in the rules is that the task of overseeing licensees may be directly supervised by the director rather than going through the Director of Industry Operations (DIO). I presume that this was done to eliminate a potential administrative bottleneck.