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Firearms Publications

ATF occasionally issues publications to inform the industries it regulates and the general public about the laws and regulations administered and enforced by ATF. These include guidebooks, newsletters, brochures, studies, and reports.

Document type Title and Description
Regulatory 2019 - July - Alabama - Public Safety Advisory - Alabama FFLs Transferring Firearms [PDF - 2.12 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this public safety advisory is to notify you of an important change to the procedure you may follow to comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act (Brady Act), when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 1998 - December - New Jersey - All FFLs - Change to New Jersey Background Check Procedure [PDF - 2.45 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The correction notice corrects an error found in the ATF open letter, dated Nov. 10, 1998, regarding the point of contact for background checks firearm transfers. 

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 1998 - November - New Hampshire - All FFLs - Change to New Hampshire Background Check Procedures [PDF - 3.27 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded.  This correction notice is an update to the original background check letter, dated Oct. 28, 1998. The State of New Hampshire has elected to participate as a NICS point of contact for handguns.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 1998 - November - Oregon - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 4.56 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 1998 - October - Alabama - FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.87 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise ffederal firearms licensees in Alabama of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 1998 - October - South Carolina - All FFLs - Change to South Carolina Background Check Procedures [PDF - 1.95 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded.  Licensees must be enrolled with the FBI before they can initiate NICS checks through the NICS Operations Center. Licensees who are not currently enrolled are advised to do so upon receipt of this letter.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 1998 - October - Idaho - All FFLs - Establishment of National Instant Criminal Background Check System [PDF - 2.63 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this open letter is to advise you of an important change to the procedure you may follow to comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. This open letter supersedes the document by the same title, posted on April 8, 2010.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 1998 - November - New Mexico - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 3.11 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. This correction notice is to advise all New Mexico Federal firearms licensees that the New Mexico Department of Public Safety will no longer participate as the NICS point of contact.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 1998 - October - North Carolina - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.51 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 1998 - October - Puerto Rico - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.88 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 1998 - October - Hawaii - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.86 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. On Nov. 30, 1998, the interim provisions of the Brady law will cease to apply, and the permanent provisions of the Brady law will take effect.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 1998 - October - Indiana - All FFLs - Establishment of National Instant Criminal Background Check System [PDF - 1.87 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. The permanent provisions of the Brady law provide for the establishment of a national instant criminal background check system (NICS) that licensees must contact before transferring any firearm to unlicensed individuals.

Published/Revised:

Last Updated: December 2, 2025

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