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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 2006 - May - All FFLs - Adding a Vertical Fore Grip to a Handgun [PDF - 192.32 KB]

This open letter provides information regarding the effect of adding a vertical fore grip to a handgun, therefore making it a firearm that falls under the National Firearms Act (NFA).

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2006 - May - New York - New York's License to Carry and Possess Handguns No Longer Qualifies as Alternative to NICS Check [PDF - 90.79 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to advise New York Federal firearms licensees that the New York license to carry and possess handguns  no longer qualifies as an alternative to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. 

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2006 - April - All FFLs - Child Safety Lock Act of 2005 [PDF - 31.25 KB]

This open letter serves to notify Federal firearms licensees that the Child Safety Lock Act of 2005 makes it generally unlawful for any licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer to sell, deliver, or transfer any handgun to any person, other than another licensee, unless the transferee (buyer) is provided with a secure gun storage or safety device for that handgun.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2006 - March - All FFLs - Filing National Firearms Act Transaction Forms by Facsimile Transmission [PDF - 34.03 KB]

This is to update information regarding the filing of certain National Firearms Act (NFA) forms by facsimile transmission as the functions of the NFA Branch have been relocated to Martinsburg, West Virginia from Washington, D.C.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2006 - January - All FFLs - Certain Firearms Transfers Affected by Change to Atomic Energy Act of 1954 [PDF - 35.37 KB]

The purpose of this open letter is to advise all federal firearms licensees (FFLs) of a recent change to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as it relates to the transfer of certain types of firearms.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2006 - January - All FFLs - Change to Look of Federal Firearms License [PDF - 49.73 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to advise you of a change to the look of the Federal firearms license (FFL) beginning Jan. 12, 2006, in response to feedback received from licensees.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2006 - January - Nevada - Nevada's Carry Concealed Weapon Permits Again Qualify as Alternative to NICS Check [PDF - 101.57 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to advise you of an important change to the procedure you may follow beginning Jan. 5, 2006. On this day, Nevada's Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) permit will again qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. Accordingly, the Oct. 17, 2005, Open Letter to Nevada Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) is superseded.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2005 - December - Indiana - Procedures for Indiana FFLs Using the Revised ATF Form 4473 [PDF - 53.58 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to clarify that the revised ATF Form 4473, Firearms Transaction Record Part I - Over The Counter, has no effect on the procedures Indiana Federal Firearms Licensees must follow in order to comply with the Brady Law. The procedures enumerated in the September 2003 Open Letter to All Indiana Firearms Licensees are still in effect.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2005 - December - Pennsylvania - Private Transfers of Firearms and Using NICS or the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) [PDF - 36.62 KB]

ATF has received questions from firearms dealers in Pennsylvania concerning the use of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)/Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) to do background checks of people who are acquiring firearms from other nonlicensees in what are commonly called “private transfers.”

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2005 - All FFLs - Lawful Importation of Certain Firearm Barrels Into the United States for Commercial Purposes [PDF - 34.31 KB]

The purpose of this open letter is to update licensed and registered importers of firearms, ammunition and other regulated commodities on the lawful importation of certain firearm barrels into the United States for commercial purposes.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2005 - October - U.S. Virgin Islands - All FFLs - U.S. Virgin Islands Firearms Permits No Longer Alternative to NICS Check [PDF - 38.76 KB]

This open letter informs Federal firearms licensees in the U.S. Virgin Islands that the U.S. Virgin Islands Firearms Permits no longer qualifies as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2005 - October - Georgia - All FFLs - Georgia's Concealed Weapons Permits No Longer Alternative to NICS Check [PDF - 38.27 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to inform all Georgia Federal firearms licensees (FFL) that Georgia's Concealed Weapons Permits no longer qualifies as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check.

Published/Revised:

Last Updated: December 2, 2025

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