giffords.org
AdvocacyOppose
Definition of "willfully"
Defining `Willfully' for Firearms Violations
ATF-2026-0265-0001NPRM
Comments
2,286
Last activity Aug 3, 2026
Deadline
3 days
Closes Aug 7, 2026
Net supportiSupport minus oppose · campaigns included
+81%
+23% excluding campaigns
Document
Details
The document's own metadata, straight from the source system.
- Title
- Defining `Willfully' for Firearms Violations
- Posted
- May 8, 2026
- Comment period
- May 8, 2026 – Aug 7, 2026
- FR Doc
- 2026-09159
- CFR
- 27 CFR Part 478
- Topics
Analysis
Overview
What the public is saying — stance, who's commenting, and the issues they raise.
Include campaigns
Analyzed 2,284 of 2,286 comments
100%· analysis in progress
Stance breakdown
+81%
Net support
Support2,039Oppose196Other49Not yet analyzed2
Aggregates include form-letter campaigns. Excluding them, net support is +23% across organic comments.
Who commented
Breakdown by commenter type.
Business
13
Individual
2,225
Trade association
3
Advocacy
35
Other
8
Not yet analyzed
2
Comments over time
Weekly arrivals, stacked by stance.
Posted May 8, 2026Deadline Aug 7, 2026
May 4May 25Jun 15Jun 29Jul 13Jul 27Aug 3
Support2,039Oppose196Other49
Support × commenter type
How each type splits across stance.
Support
Oppose
Other
Individual
90%
8%
2%
Advocacy
69%
31%
0%
Business
77%
15%
8%
Other
25%
25%
50%
Trade association
100%
0%
0%
Issues raised
The docket's canonical issues. Select one to browse its comments.
Definition of "willfully"2,088
Mens rea requirements2,067
End zero-tolerance enforcement policy1,953
Zero-tolerance enforcement policy79
Government overreach and agency accountability67
Second amendment rights43
Ffl regulatory burden29
Standard of willfulness for revocation26
Gun seller training requirements11
Gun seller liability4
Position map
Who stands where on each issue?
Every non-silent position is backed by an excerpt from the comment.
Issues shown
Uncheck an issue to choose another.
1 organization filed this week — visible to subscribers.
| Organization | Definition of "willfully" | End zero-tolerance enforcement policy | Mens rea requirements | Zero-tolerance enforcement policy | Ffl regulatory burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
giffords.org AdvocacyOppose Giffords.org opposes the proposed rule because it defines "willful" violations too narrowly, which they argue provides g | · | · | · | · | |
Gun Owners of America (GOA) AdvocacySupport Gun Owners of America is urging its members to support the ATF's proposed rule defining "willfully" for firearms violati | · | ||||
National Rifle Association Trade associationSupport The National Rifle Association (NRA) supports the proposed rulemaking to codify a "willful" standard for firearms violat | · | · | |||
Silencer Central / BANISH Suppressors BusinessSupport The commenter, a CEO and founder of a firearms business (Silencer Central / BANISH Suppressors), supports the proposed r | · | · |
Gun Owners of America (GOA)
AdvocacySupport
Definition of "willfully"
End zero-tolerance enforcement policy
Mens rea requirements
Zero-tolerance enforcement policy
National Rifle Association
Trade associationSupport
Definition of "willfully"
End zero-tolerance enforcement policy
Mens rea requirements
Silencer Central / BANISH Suppressors
BusinessSupport
Definition of "willfully"
End zero-tolerance enforcement policy
Mens rea requirements
12 organization-typed comments could not be identified.
Form letters
Campaigns
Organized form-letter drives, separated from organic one-off comments.
75%of comments arrived through 5 form-letter campaigns — 1,714 of 2,286 comments. 508 are organic, and 64 are still being processed for campaign detection.
Campaign1,714Organic508Not yet determined64
⚑
Protecting Firearms Dealers from Revocation
Organized by Gun Owners of America
60526.5% of total
Support
⚑
Defining Willfully for Firearms Violations
Organized by Gun Owners of America
49921.8% of total
Support
⚑
Support Meaningful Definition of Willfully
Organized by Gun Owners of America
37616.4% of total
Support
⚑
Defining "Willfully" for Firearms Violations
Organized by Gun Owners of America
1325.8% of total
Support
⚑
Defining "Willfully" for Firearms Violations
Organized by Gun Owners of America
1024.5% of total
Support
Comments
Explorer
Every mirrored comment — filter by stance, campaign, or issue.
Filter:
- 5 comments from the past week
5 comments match your current view and arrived in the last week. Read this week's comments with stance, commenter type, and AI summaries on the paid plan.
- Jul 26, 2026Gloria FooksOpposeIndividual
Gloria Fooks opposes the proposed rule to define "willfully" for firearms violations, arguing that it would allow "shady dealers" to avoid accountability for breaking the law. She emphasizes that gun shop owners have a responsibility to know and follow the law to ensure public safety.
Read comment → - Jul 25, 2026Anonymous AnonymousSupportIndividual
The commenter supports the proposed action of defining "willfully" for firearms violations, arguing that the current lack of restrictions on weapons leads to violence and injury. They advocate for stricter law enforcement and background checks to ensure public safety and order.
Read comment → - Jul 25, 2026Anonymous AnonymousOpposeIndividualRead comment →
- Jul 25, 2026Steven RileyOtherIndividualRead comment →
- Jul 25, 2026Anonymous AnonymousOpposeIndividualRead comment →
- Jul 25, 2026Lisa DambrosioOpposeIndividual
Lisa E. D'Ambrosio opposes the proposed rule regarding the interstate transport and temporary export of firearms. She argues that the rule would endanger public safety and law enforcement by allowing individuals to transport deadly weapons across state lines without sufficient notice.
Read comment → - Jul 25, 2026Ann CrielOpposeIndividual
Ann Criel opposes the proposed rule regarding the interstate transport and temporary export of national firearms. She argues that the rule would endanger communities and law enforcement by allowing individuals to travel across state lines with deadly firearms without proper notice.
Read comment → - Jul 24, 2026Anonymous AnonymousSupportIndividual
The commenter supports the proposed rule to define "willfully" for firearms violations, arguing that the current zero-tolerance enforcement policy harms law-abiding gun dealers. They advocate for a standard that protects good-faith actors and notes that the current environment has caused local gun stores to close.
Read comment → - Jul 24, 2026Anonymous AnonymousSupportIndividual
The commenter supports the proposed rule to define "willfully" for firearms violations, arguing that a zero-tolerance policy unfairly penalizes good-faith actors. They suggest that the current standard allows for the targeting of specific FFLs and advocate for a system based on substantiated records of bad behavior.
Read comment → - Jul 23, 2026Tyler ChristensenOpposeIndividual
Tyler Christensen, a healthcare professional, opposes the proposed rule because he believes it would allow "shady dealers" to avoid accountability for willful firearm violations. He argues that the ATF should enforce stricter compliance to ensure public safety and prevent firearms from reaching dangerous individuals.
Read comment →