Frequently Asked Questions

You'll leave Dallas with straight answers on the issues that matter most right now. That means understanding the 34-rule regulatory overhaul in plain terms, knowing what changed on the Form 4473 and how the new adverse action framework affects your risk profile, and getting a clear picture of where eForms and NFA transfers stand today — all directly from the ATF Director, ATF Chief Counsel, and FBI. Add a session on FFL legal defense from an attorney who has handled hundreds of inspections, plus a practical look at what compliant A&D and 4473 technology should look like in 2026. That's what's on the agenda.

You can read the regulations. What you can't get from reading is intent, interpretation, and enforcement priority — and those three things are often where FFLs get tripped up. The gap between what a regulation says and how ATF applies it in the field is real. When you can ask the Director directly how the agency is prioritizing enforcement, or ask the Chief Counsel how a specific provision will be interpreted in practice, you walk away with something regulations alone can never give you: clarity.

Twenty years of experience is a genuine asset in that room — it means you'll ask better questions. But experience doesn't substitute for knowing what changed last year. ATF's 34-rule overhaul, the revised adverse action framework, the new Form 4473, eForms updates — these are recent developments. The most seasoned FFLs tend to get the most out of direct Q&A with regulators precisely because they know exactly what to ask.

That's exactly the right time to be here. The rules are always changing — and this is your opportunity to hear about those changes directly from the people who write and enforce them. The FFLs who face adverse action rarely saw it coming, not because they weren't trying, but because they didn't know what had shifted. The purpose of The Briefing isn't to fix problems; it's to prevent them. One session with ATF's Chief Counsel on what the new regulations actually require could be the difference between a clean inspection and a revocation hearing. The cost of the ticket is a fraction of the cost of a single legal problem.

Yes. The Briefing is designed for Federal Firearms Licensees — dealers (01/02), manufacturers (07/10), importers (08/09), and SOTs. If you hold an active FFL, this event was made for you.

We also extend attendance to a limited number of professionals who directly serve the FFL community: firearms industry attorneys, FFL compliance consultants, and technology providers whose products are specifically built for FFL operations. These attendees go through the same approval process and must demonstrate a direct, professional relationship with the FFL community.

Because the value of this event comes directly from the quality and relevance of the people in the room. When government speakers take questions from the audience, those questions need to come from people who are actually regulated by these agencies — FFLs with real, operational questions about their licenses. The approval process is how we protect that. It's not bureaucracy; it's quality control. We verify that every attendee has a legitimate reason to be there, which makes the event more valuable for everyone who does qualify. And there's no risk in applying: you won't be charged until your registration is approved.

The Briefing is intentionally limited in size. This is a deliberate decision — a smaller, curated room allows for the kind of direct Q&A with government speakers that wouldn't be possible at a large conference. It also means demand will exceed capacity.

If registration fills before you apply, you'll be placed on the waitlist. Waitlist spots open up regularly as registrations are transferred or released, and we work through the waitlist in the order requests were received. Joining the waitlist costs nothing and doesn't obligate you to attend — it just secures your place in line.

It's straightforward:

If you're placed on the waitlist, you'll receive a waitlist confirmation. We'll notify you as soon as a spot opens.

A limited number of non-FFL professionals are admitted — firearms attorneys, FFL compliance consultants, and technology providers whose products are built specifically for FFL operations. If you work directly in this space, apply and we'll review it.

If you're a company that serves the FFL industry and wants real presence in the room, the better path is sponsorship. Sponsors get dedicated access to attendees, session visibility, and a seat at the table in a way that a single attendee ticket doesn't provide. See the Become a Sponsor page or email [email protected].

Attendance is $499 per person, with an early-bird discount that takes $100 off — so $399 if you book early. Book now: early-bird seats are limited and the discount ends without notice. Registration is limited to 2 attendees per FFL — this keeps the room focused and access meaningful. There are no other group discounts, but each additional attendee from your FFL gets the same seat, same access, and the same direct time with government speakers. Head to Reserve Your Seat to secure your spot.

Your ticket covers all three days of programming (September 23–25), access to all general sessions and breakouts, the Wednesday evening welcome reception, lunches on Thursday and Friday, the Thursday evening dinner reception, and all summit materials. Travel, accommodation, and personal meals outside hosted events are not included.

All reservations are non-refundable. Seating is strictly limited and reserved per FFL, and we commit catering, space, and event logistics around confirmed reservations — so a cancelled seat can't be refunded. You won't be charged until your registration is approved, so a denial never results in a charge. And if the event is cancelled, you're refunded in full. Your reservation is also fully transferable at no charge — if you can't attend, send a colleague in your place (they'll just need to meet the same FFL or qualified-professional requirement). Email [email protected] to set up a transfer.

Yes — ticket transfers are permitted at no charge, but the replacement attendee must also meet the FFL (or qualified professional) requirement and go through the same brief verification. Just email [email protected] with the name, FFL number, and contact info of the person attending in your place.

Copy, customize, and send the note below to your manager or business partner:

See the full, current speaker lineup on the Agenda & Speakers page.

Yes. Government speaker sessions include structured Q&A from the audience. This direct access to ATF's Director and Chief Counsel in an open Q&A format is genuinely rare — come prepared with your most pressing questions. This is not a panel where bureaucratic non-answers are the default; the whole point is straight answers from the source.

Select sessions will be recorded and made available to registered attendees after the event. Government agency sessions will not be recorded, out of respect for speaker participation and to preserve the open Q&A format. Session recording status will be communicated in advance.

This is one of the things we've been most intentional about. The Wednesday evening welcome reception, Thursday evening dinner, and the Debrief Lounge (open throughout the event for informal conversation) are all designed to give attendees time to connect. The room is intentionally small — every attendee is an FFL or direct FFL professional. The networking density is unusually high. You're not competing with thousands of attendees for five minutes with the right person.

The Briefing is at the W Hotel Dallas, 2440 Victory Park Lane, Dallas, TX 75219 — located in Victory Park, walking distance from American Airlines Center. We chose Dallas deliberately — it's centrally located and one of the most affordable, well-connected cities to fly into from anywhere in the country, making the trip convenient for attendees traveling from every corner of the map. See our Dallas guide for travel details, hotel booking, and things to do.

Yes — we have a negotiated rate at the W Hotel for attendees. Book your room → Book early — the block is limited and is reserved for registered attendees.

Dallas Love Field (DAL) is roughly 10 minutes from the W Hotel and is the most convenient option for most travelers.

DFW International (DFW) is 30–40 minutes away and offers significantly more flight options and airlines. Either airport works — choose based on your routing. See our Dallas page for rideshare and ground transport details.

The full, current sponsor roster appears in the Presented By section on every page of this site. To join them, see the Become a Sponsor page.

Visit the Become a Sponsor page for tier details and to submit an inquiry. Title Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor slots are limited — reach out early.

September 23–25, 2026. Wednesday opens with afternoon registration (3 PM) and the welcome reception (5–7 PM). Thursday and Friday are full programming days starting at 7:30 AM. See the full agenda.

Business casual. This is a professional compliance summit. Collared shirt, slacks or dark jeans — no suit required. The evening events are the same standard; nothing more formal is expected.

No. The Briefing is independently organized and produced. ATF and FBI speakers are participating as invited guests in their official capacities — their participation is not an agency endorsement of the event, its sponsors, or any products discussed. Views expressed by government speakers represent their professional roles.

That's the plan. The regulatory environment for FFLs isn't simplifying — the industry needs a dedicated annual forum to stay current. If 2026 is as well received as we expect, The Briefing will be back in 2027 and beyond. Your feedback will only make it better!