Comment on FR Doc # 2026-08914

: RE: Proposed Rule-making – Clarification of the Definition of Ammunition for Training Rounds I am writing to express my strong support for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) proposed amendment to clarify that certain training rounds do not meet the definition of “ammunition” under the Gun Control Act (GCA) and are not regulated by the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). This proposal represents a common-sense, practical update to federal regulations that will benefit public safety training, reduce unnecessary bureaucratic delays, and allow the agency to better allocate its enforcement resources Excluding inert, marking, or simulation-focused training rounds from the strict legal definition of ammunition is a highly logical step. These rounds are fundamentally incapable of functioning as lethal ballistic projectiles and are used exclusively in controlled environments to teach safe firearm handling and tactical decision-making. Historically, requiring federal firearms licensees (FFLs) and importers to navigate burdensome regulatory processes—such as the ATF Form 6 import permit—for non-lethal training tools has created artificial supply bottlenecks and inflated costs for vital safety training. Removing these items from GCA and AECA oversight will lower costs and increase the availability of high-quality training tools for law enforcement agencies, private security, and civilian gun owners alike. Furthermore, the proposal strikes an excellent balance by continuing to regulate "less-than-lethal" ammunition (such as rubber bullets, beanbag rounds, and chemical canisters). Because less-than-lethal munitions still possess significant kinetic force capable of causing severe bodily injury, maintaining federal oversight over these items is necessary to protect public safety. By clearly distinguishing between harmless simulation tools and active less-than-lethal munitions, the ATF is providing much-needed clarity to the firearms industry while upholding its core safety mission. I applaud the Department of Justice and the ATF for pursuing this rational regulatory relief and urge the swift adoption and implementation of this proposed rule.