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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 July 2017 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 1.08 MB]

What's In This Issue: Announcement - ATF stands up the National Firearms Act (NFA) Division; Firearm Thefts & Burglaries; Burglary and Robbery Statistics; ATF Ruling 2016-1: Electronic A&D Records; ATF Ruling 2016-2; ATF Ruling 2016-3; ATF Ruling 2016-5; Revised ATF Form 4473 (Firearms Transaction Record); Rental of Firearms On-Premises; Rental of Firearms Off-Premises; FFLs are Responsible for Retrieving Status when Using E-Check; Tips from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Section; Gun Shows

Published/Revised:

Regulatory Youth Handgun Safety Act Notice - ATF I 5300.2 [PDF - 485.46 KB]

Federal law prohibits, except in certain limited circumstances, anyone under 18 years of age from knowingly possessing a handgun, or any person from selling, delivering, or otherwise transferring a handgun to a person under 18. A knowing violation of the prohibition against selling, delivering, or otherwise transferring a handgun to a person under the age of 18 is, under certain circumstances, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Published/Revised:

Publication ATF e-Form 4473 - Quick Reference Guide for the Seller [PDF - 672.73 KB]

The quick reference guide is for federal firearms licensees (FFLs) who are using the e4473 form.

Published/Revised:

Publication ATF e-Form 4473 - Quick Reference Guide for the Buyer [PDF - 190.16 KB]

This quick reference guide is to be given to an individual to assist them in using the e4473 form.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory Notice of Firearms Manufactured or Imported - ATF Form 2 (5320.2) [PDF - 329.58 KB]

This form is used by qualified federal firearms licensees to report the manufacture or importation of an NFA firearm.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2017 - February - South Dakota - Gold Card Concealed Pistol Permit and Enhanced Permit to Carry Concealed Pistol [PDF - 33.24 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to advise South Dakota Federal Firearms Licensees regarding ATF's determination of the South Dakota's Gold Card Concealed Pistol Permit and Enhanced Permit to Carry a Concealed Pistol as alternatives to the background check. 

Published/Revised:

Regulatory Fingerprint Card Instructions and Example - FD-258 [PDF - 1.64 MB]

This is a sample fingerprint card (FD-258) that is used when applying for a federal firearms license. This card can be order from the ATF Distribution Center online or by calling 703-870-7526 or 703-870-7528.

Published/Revised:

Newsletter September 2016 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 161.27 KB]

What’s in this Issue: FFL Advisory – Attempted Thefts of Firearms; NFA Trust “41F”; Theft/Loss in Transit Ruling; Assisting Customers Who Have Been Denied or Delayed on a Firearm Background Check; Brokering Firearms for Exportation; Out of Business Procedures for Electronic Records; Gun Show Transfers: Where and How to record in records; “Occasional” Importation; eForms — Form 6

Published/Revised:

Report 2016 - Firearms Commerce Report [PDF - 847.43 KB]

2016 - Firearms Commerce Report

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2016-5 - Marking Variance for Government Defense Contractors [PDF - 92.29 KB]

ATF authorizes an alternate method or procedure to the firearms marking requirements contained in title 27, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), sections 478.92 and 479.102. Specifically, ATF authorizes licensed manufacturers of certain destructive device munitions that are manufactured for and transferred to the U.S. Government (USG) to mark these destructive device munitions with sequential lot numbers, provided conditions set forth in this ruling are met.

Published/Revised:

Regulatory 2016-4 - Electronic Transmission of Form 6A Information to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) [PDF - 55.07 KB]

ATF authorizes an alternate method or procedure in lieu of the method or procedure prescribed in the regulations that currently require an importer to submit to U.S. CBP an original, paper copy of ATF Form 6A, Release and Receipt of Imported Firearms, Ammunition and Implements of War (Form 6A), to import firearms, ammunition, and other defense articles.

Published/Revised:

Report Firearms Trace Data: Alabama - 2015 [PDF - 1.56 MB]

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2015.

Published/Revised:

Last Updated: December 2, 2025

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