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 Open Letters

Title and Description
2025 - September - All FFLs - Franklin Armory Letter Clarification [PDF - 158.8 KB]

ATF is committed to full transparency in the classification of firearms. This statement addresses the circumstances and legal landscape surrounding Franklin Armory’s “Antithesis” firearms. 

Published/Revised:

Open Letter to All FFLs - August 2025 - Franklin Armory Reformation and Antithesis Firearms [PDF - 240 KB]

The purpose of this open letter is to advise all federal firearms licensees (FFLs) that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is rescinding a prior Open Letter, dated Dec. 19, 2019, regarding the Franklin Armory Reformation firearm (2019 Open Letter). This open letter also advises FFLs on the classification of the Franklin Armory Reformation and Antithesis firearms under federal law.

 

Published/Revised:

2023 - June - Oklahoma - All FFLs - Self Defense Act (SDA) Handgun License [PDF - 1.98 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this open letter is to advise you that the Oklahoma Self Defense Act Handgun License (SDA Handgun License) issued on or after Nov. 1, 2021, meets the requirements as an alternative to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check — but only in Oklahoma during the five-year period beginning on the date of issuance of the SDA Handgun License.

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - Tennessee - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.26 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 18 U.S.C. § 922(t).

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - Oklahoma - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.62 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - U.S. Virgin Islands - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.86 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of an important change to the procedure you must follow beginning October 19, 2005, in order to comply with the Brady Law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(t).

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - Connecticut - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.61 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in Connecticut of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady Law.

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - Wyoming - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.56 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - Wisconsin - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.49 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 18 U.S.C. § 922(t).

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - West Virginia - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.89 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance on the procedure to comply with Federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(t), when you transfer a firearm to an unlicensed person. 

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - Washington - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.9 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - Virginia - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.52 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - Utah - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.59 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 18 U.S.C. § 922(t).

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - Texas - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.66 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 18 U.S.C. § 922(t).

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - Rhode Island - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.44 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - Ohio - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.27 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 

Published/Revised:

2011 - May - Kansas - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.92 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded.  The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. On Nov. 30, 1998, the interim provisions of the Brady law will cease to apply, and the permanent provisions of the Brady law will take effect.

Published/Revised:

2011 - August - Nevada - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.93 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in Nevada of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

2011 - June - Iowa - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.93 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance on the procedure you may follow to comply with the Brady Act, when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. 

Published/Revised:

2008 - May - Illinois - Illinois Firearms Owner Identification Cards No Longer Qualify as Alternative to NICS Check [PDF - 1.93 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this open letter is to advise you that beginning July 1, 2008, Illinois Firearms Owner Identification (FOID) cards no longer qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check.

Published/Revised:

2006 - July - Georgia - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.86 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in Georgia of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

2015 - May - Kentucky - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.31 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded.  The purpose of this letter is to provide clarification and guidance on alternative permit procedures that comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act (Brady law) for firearms transfers to unlicensed persons in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. 

Published/Revised:

2011 - April - Nebraska - FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.93 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded.  The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in Nebraska of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - Northern Mariana Islands - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.86 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of an important change to the procedure you must follow beginning Oct. 19, 2005, in order to comply with the Brady Law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 

Published/Revised:

1998 - October - California - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.85 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in California of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

Last Updated: August 21, 2025

ATF.gov

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

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