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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 2011 - November - All FFLs - Recent Changes to Florida State Law [PDF - 62.6 KB]

The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance on the recent changes to Florida state law and to assist federal firearms licensees in complying with federal firearms laws and regulations and how they may affect Florida county ordinances that require sellers to wait five days before delivering a firearm.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2011 - September - All FFLs - Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes [PDF - 56.61 KB]

The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance on the issue of marijuana for medicinal purposes and its applicability to federal firearms laws.

Published/Revised:

Newsletter September 2011 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 695.68 KB]

What's In This Issue: Adjudicated “Mentally Defective”; Prohibited Persons and Restoration of Gun Rights; Serial Numbers; FBI Flyer: Potential Indicators of Terrorist Activities Related to Firearms Shops and Ranges; Marking of Conversion Devices by Manufacturers; Prohibition on Obliterating, Removing or Changing the Markings on an NFA Firearm; Address for Reports of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Pistols and Revolvers Address; Transferring Firearms from One A&D Record to Another; C&R Licensees: Out-of-Business Requirements; Are You Moving; Most Recent Open Letters; On-Site Responsible Persons; Guidance to FFLs Affected by Flooding and Other Natural Disasters; Looking for Past Newsletters; FBI/NICS News

Published/Revised:

Publication Protection Orders and Federal Firearms Prohibitions - ATF I 3310.2 [PDF - 142.09 KB]

A qualifying court order may be issued by a criminal court or civil court, such as divorce court, family court, magistrate or general jurisdiction court. The following list enumerates the elements that define a qualifying protection order under the Federal firearms prohibition.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2011 - August - All FFLs - September 11th Anniversary [PDF - 89.4 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to encourage all federal firearms licensees to increase their awareness and vigilance as the anniversary of September 11th approaches.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2011 - August - All FFLs - Rural Route Address [PDF - 137.78 KB]

The purpose of this open letter is to provide further guidance regarding purchasers who present an identification document bearing a rural route address.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2011 - August - Nevada - All FFLs - Concealed Firearm Permit Qualifies as Alternative to NICS Check [PDF - 109.38 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to advise all Nevada federal firearms licensees that Nevada's Concealed Firearm Permit qualifies as an alternative to the background check required by the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2011-4 - Pistols Configured from Rifles; Rifles Configured from Pistols [PDF - 82.73 KB]

Unassembled parts and configurations of parts of pistols, rifles, handguns or other weapons that result in a firearm as defined under the NFA, 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)(3); 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)(3) and (a)(4); 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)(3) and (a)(4); and 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)(4).

Published/Revised:

Report 2011 - Firearms Commerce Report [PDF - 1.18 MB]

This report presents data drawn from a number of ATF reports and records in one comprehensive document. Included are metrics regarding firearms manufactured, exports, imports and more. 

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2011 - May - Kansas - All FFLs - National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Requirement Exception [PDF - 109.55 KB]

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 2011 - May - All FFLs - Complying with Recordkeeping Requirements When Initial NICS Response Changed [PDF - 101.56 KB]

The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance to Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) on how to comply with recordkeeping requirements when there is a change to the response initially received by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) during a background check for a firearm transfer.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2011 - April - National - Submitting ATF Form 4 or Form 5 [PDF - 93.76 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance to any person submitting ATF Form 4, Application for Tax Paid Transfer and Registration of a Firearm, or with ATF Form 5, Application for Tax Exempt Transfer and Registration of a Firearm.

Published/Revised:

Last Updated: December 2, 2025

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