[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 239 (Friday, December 12, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73906-73907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29236]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

[Docket No. ATF 2014R-50N]


Granting of Relief; Federal Firearms Privileges

AGENCY: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), 
Department of Justice.

ACTION: Notice of granting of restoration of Federal firearms 
privileges.

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SUMMARY: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (NGSC), a wholly owned 
subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC), has been granted 
relief from the disabilities imposed by Federal laws by the Director of 
ATF with respect to the acquisition, receipt, transfer, shipment, 
transportation, or possession of firearms.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shermaine Kenner, Enforcement Programs 
and Services; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. 
Department of Justice; 99 New York Avenue NE., Washington, DC 20226; 
telephone (202) 648-7070.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Attorney General is responsible for 
enforcing the provisions of the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), 18 
U.S.C. Chapter 44. He has delegated that responsibility to the Director 
of ATF, subject to the direction of the Attorney General and the Deputy 
Attorney General. 28 CFR 0.130(a). ATF has promulgated regulations that 
implement the provisions of the GCA in 27 CFR part 478.
    Section 922(g) of the GCA prohibits certain persons from shipping 
or transporting any firearm in interstate or foreign commerce, or 
receiving any firearm which has been shipped or transported in 
interstate or foreign commerce, or possessing any firearm in or 
affecting commerce. These prohibitions apply to any person who--

(1) Has been convicted in any court of a crime punishable by 
imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;
(2) Is a fugitive from justice;
(3) Is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance;
(4) Has been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental 
institution;
(5) Is an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States or, with 
certain exceptions, aliens admitted to the United States under a 
nonimmigrant visa;
(6) Has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable 
conditions;
(7) Having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced U.S. 
citizenship;
(8) Is subject to a court order that restrains the person from 
harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child of 
such intimate partner; or
(9) Has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic 
violence.

    The term ``person'' is defined in section 921(a)(1) as including 
``any individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, 
society, or joint stock company.'' Section 925(c) of the GCA provides 
that a person who is prohibited from possessing, shipping, 
transporting, or receiving firearms or ammunition may make application 
to the Attorney General to remove the firearms disabilities imposed 
under section 922(g) ``if it is established to his satisfaction that 
the circumstances regarding the disability, and the applicant's record 
and reputation, are such that the applicant will not be likely to act 
in a manner dangerous to public safety and that the granting of the 
relief would not be contrary to the public interest.'' The Attorney 
General has delegated the authority to grant relief from firearms 
disabilities to the Director of ATF.
    Section 925(c) further provides that ``[w]henever the Attorney 
General grants relief to any person pursuant to this section he shall 
promptly publish in the Federal Register notice of such action, 
together with the reasons therefor.'' Regulations implementing the 
provisions of section 925(c) are set forth in 27 CFR 478.144.
    Since 1992, Congress has eliminated funding for ATF to investigate 
or act upon applications for relief from federal firearms disabilities 
submitted by individuals. However, since 1993, Congress has authorized 
funding for ATF to investigate and act upon applications filed by 
corporations for relief from Federal firearms disabilities.
    An application to ATF for relief from Federal firearms disabilities 
under 18 U.S.C. 925(c) was submitted for NGSC. In the matter under 
review, between 1993 and 2002, NGSC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NGC, 
merged with and succeeded the assets and business operations of three 
non-surviving entities that had been convicted in Federal court of 
crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. 
Specifically, TRW Electronic Products, Inc. was convicted on September 
25, 1987, in the United States District Court for the District of 
Colorado, Case No. 87 CR-250, for violations of 18 U.S.C. 2 and 1001. 
TRW, Inc. was convicted on August 25, 1988, in the United States 
District Court for the Northern District of Ohio for a violation of 18 
U.S.C. 371. Litton Applied Technology Division was convicted on June 
30, 1999, in the United States District Court for the

[[Page 73907]]

Central District of California, Case No. CR 99-673, for a violation of 
18 U.S.C. 371.
    By letter dated June 6, 2012, ATF granted relief to Northrop 
Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc., a wholly owned 
subsidiary of NGC, resulting from its own prohibiting convictions, but 
took no action on relief to the non-surviving entities because they no 
longer exist. See 77 FR 58150. Nonetheless, because NGSC merged with 
and succeeded the assets and operations of the non-surviving entities, 
ATF subsequently determined that NGSC, as their successor, is eligible 
for relief.
    Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 925(c), on September 23, 2014, NGSC, a wholly 
owned subsidiary of NGC, as successor to TRW Electronic Products, Inc., 
TRW, Inc., and Litton Applied Technology Division, was granted relief 
by ATF from the disabilities imposed by Federal law, 18 U.S.C. 
922(g)(1), with respect to the acquisition, receipt, transfer, 
shipment, transportation, or possession of firearms and ammunition as a 
result of these convictions of the non-surviving entities. It has been 
established to ATF's satisfaction that the circumstances regarding 
NGSC's disabilities and its record and reputation are such that the 
NGSC will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety, 
and that the granting of the relief would not be contrary to the public 
interest.

B. Todd Jones,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-29236 Filed 12-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-FY-P