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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
Newsletter November 2008 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 377.59 KB]

What's In This Issue: Aliens Buying Ammunition; Sales of Firearms to Licensed Collectors; Tribal Identification Does Not Meet Brady Law Requirements; Change in Business Structure That Requires a New License; Transfer of a National Firearms Act Firearm to a Corporation or Other Legal Entity; Clarification on Multiple Sales Reports; Nonlicensee State- to-State Transfer; Customer Service Enhancements at the Federal Firearms Licensing Center; Aliens Buying Firearms: A Four-Step Guide Following the Four Steps and Know the Exceptions; Providing Copies of Federal Licensees to Unlicensed Persons; FFL Newsletter Abbreviations; Availability of ATF Publication 3312.8 Personal Firearms Record; Achieving Compliance with the Gun Control Act

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2008 - August - All FFLs - Clarification for FFLs on Obtaining a Marking Variance [PDF - 121.73 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to advise you of an important clarification to the manner in which a Federal Firearms License holder can obtain a marking variance from the provisions of 27 CFR 478.92. 

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2008 - August - South Carolina - All FFLs - Amendment to South Carolina Law Prohibiting Handgun Sales to Persons Under 18 Years of Age [PDF - 103.51 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to advise you that the recent amendment to Section 16-23-30, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the unlawful sale of handguns to certain person, so as to prohibit the sale of a handgun to persons under eighteen years of age rather than under twenty-one years of age has no effect on federal firearms laws and regulations.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2008 - June - All FFLs - Clarification for Firearms Importers on the Importability of Firearms Barrels [PDF - 178.41 KB]

The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance to federally licensed firearms importers and registered importers of U.S. Munitions Import List Articles and clarification on the importability of firearms barrels.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2008 - May - All FFLs - Security Firms Temporarily Assigning Firearms to Unlicensed Employees [PDF - 95.91 KB]

The purpose of this open letter is to inform security firms and other persons who have federal firearms licenses (FFLs), and who may temporarily assign firearms to their unlicensed employees in furtherance of legitimate business purposes, of the statutory and regulatory requirements that affect them.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2008 - May - Nevada- All FFLs - Nevada's Carry Concealed Weapon Permits No Longer Qualify as NICS Check Alternative [PDF - 92.51 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to advise you that beginning July 1, 2008, Nevada's Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) permits will no longer qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2008-1 - Fabrique Nationale Herstal SA (FN) FNC Rifle [PDF - 11.32 KB]

The upper assembly of the Fabrique Nationale Herstal SA (FN) FNC rifle is classified as the receiver of the firearm for purposes of the Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44, and the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2008 - May - All FFLs - Procedural Guidance for Licensed and/or Registered Importers for ATF Form 6A [PDF - 299.9 KB]

This open letter is a reminder of the procedures to follow when completing ATF Form 6A as outlined in 27 CFR 478.112 and on the instruction page of the form.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2007 - June - All FFLs - Post Office Boxes or Rural Route Numbers as Residence Address [PDF - 295.3 KB]

The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance regarding firearms transferees whose only identification documents indicate only Post Office Box or Rural Route number as a residence address.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2007 - June - Kentucky - Amendment to What Was Formerly Known as Kentucky's Contiguous State Law [PDF - 249.97 KB]

The purpose of this open letter is to advise that the recent amendment to what was formerly known as Kentucky's contiguous state law has no effect on federal firearms laws and regulations.

Published/Revised:

Newsletter January 2007 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 2.42 MB]

What's In This Issue: Federal Firearms License Enhancements; Scanned or Emailed Copies of Federal Firearms Licenses; New Email Service Available to Federal Firearms Licensees; Changes and Improvements to FFL eZ Check; Requirements of Pawn Dealers Performing a Pre-Pawn NICS Check; ATF Requirement to Update Licensee Contact Information; Violent Crime Impact Teams Stop Criminals From Unlawfully Engaging in the Business of Dealing in Firearms; Use of Trade Names in Conducting Internet Sales of Firearms; Results from FY05 Firearms Compliance Inspections; ATF Form 4473 Completion and NICS Checks

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2007-3 - Preloading and Temporary Storage of Blasting Agents on Bulk Delivery Vehicles [PDF - 20.31 KB]

Under specified conditions, blasting agents may be stored in mobile type 5 magazines (bulk trucks) without meeting 27 CFR 555.211 immobilization requirements.

Published/Revised:

Last Updated: December 2, 2025

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