I get what you’re saying and the question is not out of line.
It makes a bit more sense if you think of the ATF as the FDA but for guns. They’re supposed to be the subject matter expert. So it’s not completely out of line for the court to ask them to explain matters relating to guns.
ATF has some rulemaking authority. For example, when Congress says “no commercial firearms sales without a licence”, well, at what point between raw material and finished product is that object a firearm? ATF says it’s at 80% completion.
Why is the court asking the ATF to explain anything? The ATF shouldn’t be making any decisions, they should be enforcing the laws.
I get what you’re saying and the question is not out of line.
It makes a bit more sense if you think of the ATF as the FDA but for guns. They’re supposed to be the subject matter expert. So it’s not completely out of line for the court to ask them to explain matters relating to guns.
ATF has some rulemaking authority. For example, when Congress says “no commercial firearms sales without a licence”, well, at what point between raw material and finished product is that object a firearm? ATF says it’s at 80% completion.
https://www.atf.gov/news/docs/federal-rulemaking-process