Publications Library
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. ATF publications do not have the force and effect of federal statutes or Department of Justice regulations, and are not final agency actions. They may also be rescinded or modified at ATF’s discretion.
For more information, see “Memorandum for All Components: Prohibition of Improper Guidance Documents,” from Attorney General Jefferson B. Sessions III, November 16, 2017.
| Title | Description | Category | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
 Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter 1992 Volume 1 (700 KB) |
What’s in this issue:"Straw Purchases" of Firearms; FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION EXCISE TAX HISTORY OF THE PITTMAN ROBERTSON ACT; PAYMENT OF EXCISE TAXES BY GUNSMITHS; REGISTRATION FOR TAX-FREE SALES; CUSTOMER'S TAX LIABILITY FOR RELOADED AMMUNITION; TRANSFER OR DUPLICATION OF SERIAL NUMBERS ON NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT FIREARMS; CALIFORNIA LAW CHANGE ADVISORY; MARKINGS ON FIREARMS; STORAGE OF NFA FIREARMS; SALES OF FIREARMS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS; SUPREME COURT RULES ON THOMPSON/CENTER ARMS CASE
| Firearms | Newsletter |
|
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - 1992, Volume 2 (353 KB) |
What's in this issue: Manufacturer's Annual Report Form 4483-A; Change of Address; Extension of Terms on Import Permits; Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax; Firearms Sales to Canadian Citizens; Renewal of Your License; List of Armor Piercing Ammunition
| Firearms | Newsletter |
|
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter – August 1997 (564 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: LEGISLATIVE ISSUES; NEW RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR PURCHASERS; LICENSEE NOTIFICATION; ASSAULT WEAPON RECEIVERS; GOVERNMENTAL EXEMPTION TO SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPON BAN; IMPORTATION OF MACHINEGUNS; TRANSFER OF REGISTERED NFA WEAPONS IN A DECEDENT’S ESTATE; RETENTION OF REGISTERED MACHINEGUNS BY LICENSEES WHO DISCONTINUE BUSINESS; MEET THE NEW CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST; GOING OUT OF BUSINESS; WALLET GUNS; IMPROVING SECURITY; ATF’S STOLEN FIREARMS PROGRAM
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter – August 1998 (35 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND SYSTEM (NICS); NEW FIREARMS TRANSACTION RECORD; REPORTING MULTIPLE SALES OR OTHER DISPOSITIONS OF PISTOLS AND REVOLVERS; FIREARMS SALES TO FOREIGN NATIONALS; AGE RESTRICTION REMINDER; RESOLUTION OF MODERN MUZZLE LOADING COURT CASE; NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT (NFA) INFORMATION; LIMITED TO USE AS SALES SAMPLE; IMPORTING INFORMATION; RESTRICTED REGISTRATION –Possession limited to continued compliance with provisions of Public Law 99-308; Applications to Import Sales samples of Machineguns; Semiautomatic Assault Weapons imported temporarily for repair; Applications to import U.S.-origin Significant Military Equipment; Importation of Firearms for Display at Industry Trade Shows; Surplus military curio or relic firearms; FFL OR INTERSTATE THEFT PROCEDURES AND INFORMATION; FFL CONCERNS AND ALERTS;
| Firearms | Newsletter |
|
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter-February 1999 (160 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: FFL NEWSLETTER PREVIOUS EDITIONS; CANADIAN FIREARMS ISSUES; ATF DISTRIBUTION CENTER; NICS AND RETURNED FIREARMS ISSUES; AGE RESTRICTIONS ON FIREARMS TRANSACTIONS; MODERN MUZZLELOADING ISSUES; SECURE GUN STORAGE DEVICES AMENDMENT; RELIEF OF DISABILITY INFORMATION; NONRESIDENT ALIEN PROHIBITED PERSON CATEGORY; GUNSHOWS AND EVENTS; SALES OF SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPONS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS; SALES OF LARGE CAPACITY AMMUNITION FEEDING DEVICES TO CAMPUS POLICE DEPARTMENTS; LARGE CAPACITY AMMUNITION FEEDING DEVICE MARKINGS; LICENSEES WHO DISCONTINUE BUSINESS; LICENSEE ADDRESS AND MAIL DELIVERY ISSUES
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter-September 1999 (50 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM (NICS) AND THE BRADY HANDGUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT (BRADY); ATF FORM 4473 COMPLETION AND NICS CHECKS; NICS ENROLLMENT BY LICENSEES; SALES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS; REQUIRED IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT; ATF FORM 4473 COMPLETION ERRORS AND NICS; NICS AND THE 3-DAY WAIT; NICS AND POTENTIAL “STRAW TRANSACTIONS; LICENSEE FINES, SUSPENSION, AND/OR REVOCATION FOR NICS VIOLATIONS; NICS AND COLLECTORS OF CURIO AND RELIC FIREARMS; SPECIAL NOTICES; NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDCHECK SYSTEM (NICS) NEWS
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter-May 2001 (177 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: TRANSFERS TO ALIENS INA NONIMMIGRANT STATUS; NEW ADDRESS FOR OUT OF BUSINESS RECORDS CENTER; COMPUTERIZED ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION RECORDS; AUCTIONING FIREARMS; CORPORATE MERGERS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT STATUS OF FEDERAL LICENSES; TRANSFERS OF NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT FIREARMS IN DECEDENT’S ESTATES; IMPORTATION OF CERTAIN FRAMES, RECEIVERS AND BARRELS; QUESTIONS TO THE EDITOR; FBI/NICS
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter-December 2002 (203 KB) | What’s In This Issue: INS-ISSUED ALIEN NUMBERS AND ADMISSION NUMBERS; CHANGE OF ADDRESS REQUIRES AMENDED LICENSE; PROVIDING COPIES OF ATF FORM 4473 AS PART OF COUPON/REBATE OFFERS; “CONTIGUOUS STATE”; DISTRIBUTION OF EXPLOSIVE PEST CONTROL DEVICES AT GUN SHOWS; ELECTRONIC VERSIONS OF ATF FORM 4473; ELECTRONIC VERSIONS OF ATF FORM 4473; QUESTIONS TO THE EDITOR; NICS DENIALS OF PAWN REDEMPTIONS; TRANSFERS TO ALIENS UNDER A NONIMMIGRANT VISA – AN UPDATE; QUICK ACTION PAYS DIVIDENDS; RECORDING FIREARMS SERIAL NUMBERS; RUSSIAN AIR GUNS AND DUMMY GUNS MANUFACTURED WITH PROHIBITED FIREARM COMPONENT PARTS AND/OR FIREARM RECEIVERS; STREETSWEEPER UPDATE; FBI/NICS | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter-February 2005 (92 KB) | INFORMATION ON NEW ATF FORM 4473; SALES OF FIREARMS TO LICENSED COLLECTORS OF CURIOS AND RELICS; NICS E-CHECK TRANSFER PROCESS; 2005 PRESIDENTS’ DAY WEEKEND 24-HOUR OUTAGE; MUZZLE LOADING FIREARMS; PROVIDING A PROSPECTIVE TRANSFEREE THE NICS TRANSACTION NUMBER (NTN); ARREST MADE IN MURDER OF INKSTER GUN DEALER; SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPON (SAW) BAN; IMPORTATION; RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS; ASSEMBLY OF NON-SPORTING SHOTGUNS AND SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLES FROM IMPORTED PARTS; NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT; LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS; EFFECT ON STATE LAW; FBI/NICS | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter-August 2005 (978 KB) | What’s In This Issue: CERTIFIED FAXED COPIES OF LICENSES; HOW TO REPORT THE THEFT OR LOSS OF A FIREARM; NATIVE AMERICAN IDENTIFICATION CARDS; TEEN GETS LIFE IN PRISON IN MURDER OF INKSTER GUN DEALER; INTERNET SALES OF FIREARMS; FIVE INDICTED ON FIREARMS TRAFFICKING AND DRUG CHARGES; DEALERS IN BLACK POWDER; NON IMMIGRANT ALIENS AND NICS ALTERNATIVE PERMIT; FBI/NICS | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - March 2006 (182 KB) | What’s In This Issue: REVISED ATF FORM 4473 (FIREARMS TRANSACTION RECORD); CHILD SAFETY LOCK ACT OF 2005; NEW ATF PROGRAM IMPACTS THE NATION’S VIOLENT CRIME RATES; NEW FEDERAL FIREARMS REGULATIONS REFERENCE GUIDE; IMPORTATION OF DUAL USE FIREARM BARRELS; RESPONSIBLE PERSONS LISTED ON THE FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSE; REPORTING THEFT OR LOSS OF FIREARMS; LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS; ONLINE LEARNING THEATER AVAILABLE TO ALL FFLS; READERS NOTE; FBI/NICS | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - November 2008 (493 KB) | What’s In This Issue: SALE OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION TO ALIENS; 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; AVAILABILITY OF ATF PUBLICATION 3312.8 PERSONAL FIREARMS RECORD; ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE WITH THE GUN CONTROL ACT; CLARIFICATION ON MULTIPLE SALES REPORTS; NONLICENSEE STATE-TO-STATE TRANSFER; CUSTOMER SERVICE ENHANCEMENTSAT THE FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSING CENTER; TRANSACTIONS IN EXPLOSIVE-TYPE DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES; FBI/NICS News | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter-November 2009 (406 KB) | What’s In This Issue: Protecting America; ATF Strives to Improve Customer Service Through Online Notification; Pistol Grips and Shotguns; Improving Firearms Security; Here Are Some Reminders for Completing ATF Form 4473; FFL Newsletter Questions; NFA Forms and Their Use; Clarification on Submission of Multiple Handgun Sale Forms: ATF Encourages Support of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC); FBI/NICS News | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter June 2010 (1195 KB) | What’s In This Issue: New Appointments in Enforcement Programs and Services–Assistant Director and Deputy Assistant Director; eTrace Claims Of Illegal Gun Owner Registration; Valid Identification Document; Internet Sales; ATF I 5300.2, Youth Handgun Safety Act Notice; State Firearms Freedom Acts; Gun Show Guidelines; ATF Form 6 Import Applications; FBI/NICS News | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter February 2011 (645 KB) | What’s In This Issue: SHOT Show 2011; Important Notice to Dealers and Other Participants at This Gun Show, ATF I 5300.23a; Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Exportation Report; Study on the Importability of Certain Shotguns; Contiguous State; Hunting Licenses Used as Government Identification; FFL eZ Check: Collectors; Changes in Legal Entity; Special Characters in Serial Numbers; Purchase of Firearms by Organizations; Sole Proprietors and Logging Personal Firearms In/Out of the A&D Records; National Firearms Act: Restrictions Stamped on an NFA Form; FBI/NICS News | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter September 2011 (727 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: Adjudicated “Mentally Defective”; Prohibited Persons and Restoration of Gun Rights Serial Numbers; FBI Flyer: Potential Indicators of Terrorist Activities Related to Firearms Shops and Ranges; Marking of Conversion Devices by Manufacturers; Prohibition on Obliterating, Removing or Changing the Markings on an NFA Firearm; Address for Reports of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Pistols and Revolvers Address; Transferring Firearms from One A&D Record to Another; C&R Licensees: Out-of-Business; Requirements; Are You Moving?; Most Recent Open Letters; On-Site Responsible Persons; Guidance to FFLs Affected by Flooding and Other Natural Disasters; Looking for Past Newsletters?
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 2 (354 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: The Director's Column; Curios, Relics Classification Expanded; Stolen Guns Threaten Everyone; News You Can Use
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 1 (343 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: A MESSAGE TO THE FFL from Stephen Higgins Director of ATF; Firearms License Streamlined; FIREARMS SEMINARS LOOK LIKE A HIT; .22 Caliber Rimfire Ammunition Records Eliminated; Black Powder Form Eliminated; Three Firearms Defined As Machineguns; NEW ORGANIZATION OFFICE OF REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT; ATF SPOTLIGHTS; ATF REORGANIZATION
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 2 (246 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: GUN SHOWS REVISITED; Armed Forces Dual Residency Clarified; YAC STEN MK II Carbine Classified as Machinegun; Remember--It's A Three- Year License Now; Licensee Q's and A's; Court Decisions
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - May 2012 (241 KB) |
What’s in This Issue: Customer Service Standards; SHOT Show 2012; Multiple Trade Name Policy; Hunting Licenses Issued by Retailers; Binary Exploding Targets; Completion of Section A of ATF Form 4473 Out-of-State Driver’s License Used as an Identification Document; REAL ID Act of 2005; Recording Firearms in the Acquisition and Disposition Record; Guide to Requesting Marking Variances; Firearms Commerce in the United States 2011; Looking for Past Newsletters?; FBI NICS Information
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Explosives Industry Newsletter-June 1997 (248 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: COMPUTERIZED RECORDKEEPING SYSTEMS; BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS DISTRICT OFFICES; Letters to the Editor; ITEMS OF INTEREST; ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICT EXPLOSIVE OFFICERS; ANTITERRORISM AND EFFECTIVE DEATH PENALTY ACT OF 1996; ATF and the INTERNET; EXPLOSIVES SECURITY; National Repository of Arson and Explosive Incidents; THEATRICALFLASH POWDER; BE AWARE AMERICA!;
| Explosives | Newsletter |
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Explosives Industry Newsletter-August 2000 (160 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: THE NEW ATF STRUCTURE; ATF PUBLISHES FINAL RULE IN FEDERAL REGISTER; AMENDMENT TO LICENSING REQUIREMENTS INTENDED TO EASE BURDEN FOR ON-SITE MANUFACTURERS; STORAGE REQUIREMENTS—DISPLAY FIREWORKS; CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR TYPE 4 MAGAZINES CLARIFIED; LETTERS TO THE EDITOR; REMINDER!!; U.S. CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD; DISPOSING OF DETERIORATED EXPLOSIVES; ATF REACHES INDUSTRY MEMBERS VIA INTERNET
| Explosives | Newsletter |
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Explosives Industry Newsletter-January 2001 (572 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: A Message from the Chief, Arson & Explosives Programs Division; The New Orange Book; Variances; User Permits and User-Limited Permits; Verbal Opinions vs. “Have-it-in-Writing”; Fireworks Table of Distance Issues; Plastic Explosives; Thefts or Losses of Explosives; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Markings on Imported Explosives; Personnel Changes Within the Arson and Explosives Programs Division; International Explosives Assistance
| Explosives | Newsletter |
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Explosives Industry Newsletter-June 2001 (181 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: A Message from the Chief, Arson & Explosives Programs Division; International Explosives Assistance;Philadelphia Field Division Bombing Incidents; Barricades; Black Powder Sales; Safety, Storage, and Illegal Devices; Special Events Fireworks Variances; First Quarter 2001 Explosives Thefts
| Explosives | Newsletter |
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Explosives Industry Newsletter--November 2001 (578 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF, ARSON & EXPLOSIVES PROGRAMS DIVISION; TRANSFERS OF EXPLOSIVES IN-STATE; ATF MEETS WITH ISEE, PGI; FUGITIVE CORNER; CONTACT ATF ON ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION TOPICS; THIRD QUARTER 2001 EXPLOSIVES THEFTS
| Explosives | Newsletter |