Firearms Publications

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: January 24, 2003

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: January 24, 2003

The new ATF F 4473, Firearms Transaction Record Part I (Over-the-Counter), requires all non-US citizens to provide an INS-issued Alien Number or an INS-issued Admission Number (both types of numbers are often referred to as "A" numbers). Only a non-US citizen must provide one ofthe numbers.

Published/Revised: December 30, 2003

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: December 18, 2002

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: November 5, 2002

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: September 6, 2002

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: July 30, 2002

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: February 5, 2002

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: December 31, 2002

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: November 15, 2001

In rule document 01–19418, beginning on page 40596, in the issue of Friday, August 3, 2001, make the following correction: On page 40596, in the first column, under the heading SUMMARY:, in the ninth line, ‘‘11⁄16’’ should read ‘‘1⁄16’’.

Published/Revised: August 13, 2001

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is amending the regulations to prescribe minimum height and depth requirements for identification markings placed on firearms by licensed importers and licensed manufacturers.

Published/Revised: August 3, 2001