CHEYENNE (WNE) — U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, both R-Wyo., joined Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and their Republican colleagues in reintroducing the ATF Accountability Act of 2023 to provide transparency at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for gun owners and manufacturers across America.

A news release from Wyoming’s Senate delegation said the ATF engages in a secretive classification review process where the agency makes decisions about whether a particular firearm is regulated by the National Firearms Act. Decisions and justification for decisions are often only made available to manufacturers in private correspondence. This causes uncertainty for both gun-owning Americans and firearm manufacturers, especially in combination with the ATF’s refusal to make public rules regarding classification final.

“Every day, people in Wyoming responsibly use their Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms,” Barrasso said in the release. “For far too long, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has had regulations that keep responsible gun owners and manufacturers in the dark. Any attempt to stop law-abiding citizens from appealing unfair rulings must be stopped dead in its tracks. I will continue to stand up against any policies that threaten our Second Amendment rights.”

The ATF Accountability Act would create an appeals process following a ruling by ATF with specific regular timeframes and permit gun manufacturers to appeal the legal status or classification of any product by filing with the Director of Industry Operations with jurisdiction, after which, the appeal is directed to an administrative law judge.