Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

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 2003 - September - Indiana - Changes to Indiana Background Check Procedures [PDF - 103.34 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to advise you of important changes to the procedures Indiana Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) must follow beginning Oct. 1, 2003, in order to comply with the Brady Law. It also will advise you of the procedures you will have to follow to comply with Indiana state law.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2003-1 - Importation of Browning M1919 Type Receivers for Unrestricted Commercial Sale [PDF - 212.18 KB]

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the Browning M1919 type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2003-2 - Importation of FN FAL Type Receivers for Unrestricted Commercial Sale [PDF - 187.59 KB]

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the FN FAL type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2003-4 - Importation of Sten Type Receivers for Unrestricted Commercial Sale [PDF - 193.52 KB]

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the Sten type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2003-3 - Importation of Heckler & Koch G3 Type Receivers for Unrestricted Commercial Sale [PDF - 229.69 KB]

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the Heckler & Koch G3 type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2002 - December - All FFLs - Homeland Security Act of 2002 - ATF Moves to the Department of Justice [PDF - 25.56 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to provide you with information on a provision of the recently enacted Homeland Security Act of 2002. This provision moves most of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) from the Department of the Treasury to the Department of Justice effective Jan. 24, 2003.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2002-6 - Identification of Firearms, Armor Piercing Ammunition, and Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Devices [PDF - 75.71 KB]

In accordance with 27 CFR 178.92 and 27 CFR 179.102, identification of firearms, armor piercing ammunition, and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, the terms "conspicuously" and "legibly" as used therein mean, respectively, that the markings are wholly unobstructed from plain view and that the markings contain exclusively Roman letters and Arabic numerals.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2002-5 - Transfer and Possession Machineguns [PDF - 11.23 KB]

Applications to transfer two (2) machineguns of a particular model to a federal firearms licensee as sales samples will be approved if documentation shows necessity for demonstration to government agencies.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2002 - July - All FFLs - Importer Dealer Sales Samples [PDF - 41.24 KB]

This open letter contains information about recent changes that may affect your day-to-day operations and/or long-range plans regarding dealer sales samples of machineguns.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory TD-471: Implementation of Public Law 105-0277, Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, Relating to Firearms Disabilities for Nonimmigrant Aliens - 02–2714 - Feb. 5, 2002 [PDF - 108.09 KB]

We are amending the regulations to implement the provision of Public Law 105–277, Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, relating to firearms disabilities for nonimmigrant aliens. These regulations implement the law by prohibiting, with certain exceptions, the transfer to and possession of firearms and ammunition by aliens in the United States in a nonimmigrant classification. 

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2001-5 - Identification of Transferee [PDF - 17.92 KB]

Licensees may accept a combination of valid government-issued documents to satisfy the identification document requirements of the Brady Act under certain conditions. An active-duty member of the Armed Forces is a resident of the State in which his or her permanent duty station is located and may satisfy the identification document requirement by presenting his or her military identification card along with official orders showing the permanent duty station as within the State where the licensed premises are located.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2001 - November - All FFLs - Supporting Documentation for Importation of Surplus Military Curio or Relic Firearms [PDF - 89.89 KB]

In response to the recent number of inquiries from licensed importers concerning the importation of surplus military curio or relic firearms and the submission of supporting documentation, ATF has published ATF Ruling 2001-3.

Published/Revised:

Last Updated: December 2, 2025

ATF.gov

An official website of the U.S. Department of Justice

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov