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.
Title | Description | Category | Document Type |
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This brochure clarifies ATF's disclosure policy regarding trace data.
| Firearms | Guide |
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What is the National Tracing Center Division (NTC)? The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) National Tracing Center Division (NTC) is the only organization authorized to trace U.S. and foreign manufactured firearms for international, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
| Firearms | Guide |
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By completing this record and maintaining it in a safe location, separate from your firearms, you will be taking an important first step in the effort to prevent thefts and to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals. | Firearms | Guide |
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This booklet provides safety and security information for federal firearms licensees (FFL) and their businesses. In this booklet you will find information pertaining to ATF's stolen firearms program, steps for reducing your vulnerability to theft or loss, properly identifying and recording firearms information, recording suspicious person descriptions and how to report a theft or loss of firearms inventory. | Firearms | Guide |
![]() | This document provides information regarding the procedure for requesting a computerized bookkeeping variance. | Firearms | Guide |
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The Office of Personnel Management, in conjunction with the Partnership for Public Service, has issued a pledge to those individuals seeking jobs with the Federal Government. The Department of Justice fully supports this pledge and will strive to fulfill all of its components. To attract talented people to the service of the Nation, we believe the application process should enable rather than deter job seekers. To that end, we will work to ensure a process that reflects these principles. | Careers | Report |
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What’s In This Issue: Brady; The Net; New Faces; Address Changes; Improving Firearms Security; Fingerprints; Letters of Authorization; Classification of Gas/Flare Guns with Anti-Personnel Ammunition as Destructive Devices; Processing Applications and Notices Associated with National Firearms Act Weapons Transactions; ATF Distribution Center; Gun Shows; All Dealers Must Display Licenses
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Decision-Making Authority Regarding the Denial, Suspension, or Revocation of a Federal Firearms License, or Imposition of a Civil Fine - The Department of Justice has adopted as final, without change, an interim rule that amended the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (‘‘ATF’’) to delegate to the Director of ATF the authority to serve as the deciding official regarding the denial, suspension, or revocation of federal firearms licenses, or the imposition of a civil fine. Under the interim rule, the Director has the flexibility to delegate to another ATF official the authority to decide a revocation or denial matter, or may exercise that authority himself. Because the Director can redelegate authority to take action as the final agency decision-maker to Headquarters officials, field officials, or some combination thereof, such flexibility allows ATF to more efficiently conduct denial, suspension, and revocation hearings, and make the determination whether to impose a civil fine. | Rules and Regulations | Report |
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This final rule amends regulations to clarify the meanings of terms, increase license and permit fees, eliminate duplication in licensing, relax the licensing requirements for on-site manufacturers, implement a storage notification requirement for manufacturers and other storers of explosives, update the theft/loss hotline number for reporting thefts or losses of explosives, and make minor modifications to regulations on storage. | Explosives | Report |
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This final rule removes the following States of the former Soviet Union from the list of countries from which the import of defense articles into the United States is proscribed: Georgia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The rule also restricts the importation of certain firearms and ammunition located or manufactured in any of the above countries or previously manufactured in the Soviet Union to conform to limitations contained in an agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation and in accordance with advice from the Department of State. | Resource Center | Report |
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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is amending the regulations to provide definitions for the categories of persons prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms. The definitions will facilitate the implementation of the national instant criminal background check system (NICS) required under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. | Resource Center | Report |
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Description :Firearms and Explosives Services Division Customer Service Survey –60 day Notice – comment period ends July 21, 2015 Summary :ATF F 5300.38 is used by existing Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL) to change the business address of the license and certify compliance with the provisions of the law for the new address. Licensees are required to notify ATF of the intent to move any business premises no later than 30 days prior to the intended move. The form is also used for changes of trade or business name, changes of mailing address, changes of contact information, changes of hours of operation/availability, and allows for licensees to indicate any changes of business structure. | Resource Center | Report |
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Description :Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed eCollection; eComments Requested – Action: 60-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Application to Transport Interstate or Temporarily Export Certain National Firearms Act (NFA) Firearms Summary :In response to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 Section 130002(b) as amended in 1996, the Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) administers the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). | Resource Center | Report |
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Description :Application for Federal Firearms License –60 day Notice – comment period ends January 25, 2015 Summary :In accordance with 18 U.S.C. 923(a)(1) each person intending to engage in business as a firearms or ammunition importer or manufacturer, or dealer in firearms shall file an application, pay the required fee with ATF and obtain a license before engaging in business. The information requested on the form will be used to determine eligibility for the license as required by 18 U.S.C. Section 923. | Resource Center | Report |
![]() | Baltimore Field Division Joint Press Release - Public Advisory on Exploding Targets (May 29, 2015) | News | Report |
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What's in this issue: Streamlined Application Process; New Publications; New Faces; Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act Temporary Regulations; Firearms Theft; Restraining Orders; Law Enforcement Sales; Before You Move; Final Brady Regulations; Multiple Sales Reports; No Import Permits to Armscor; Licensing Telephone; Restoration of Federal Firearms Privileges; Industry Meetings; SHOT Show
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is advising the public to be aware of fraudulent National Firearms Act (NFA) tax registration forms being used to sell NFA firearms. Some individuals are presenting altered NFA Form 4’s to prospective buyers in order to obtain a deposit, but never deliver the firearms. | Firearms | Report |
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In this issue: FFL Advisory - Attempted Thefts of Firearms, NFA Trust "41 F", Theft/Loss in Transit Ruling, and much more!
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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This letter provides additional guidance on licensing for persons engaged in selling firearms at in-state gun shows.
| Firearms | Guide |
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Multiple sale or other disposition of certain rifles questions and answers, updated Nov. 2, 2021. | Resource Center | Guide |
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What's in this issue?: New Chief of Explosives Industry Programs Branch, New Web Page, Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, ATF Ruling—Storage of Loaded Perforating Gun Assemblies, Dosed Gas Systems,m Federal Explosives Exemptions for U.S. Federal, State, and Local Government Agencies, Fireworks Storage Bins, Marking Requirements and Transfers of Damaged or Defective Display Fireworks, The Federal Explosives Regulations Pertaining to Fuses, and Fuzes Activities Conducted at Remote Storage Facilities, Note to Explosives Importers or User Permittees Importing Explosive Materials, Requirements for Marking Packages, Notification of Explosives Magazine Changes, Faxed or Scanned Copies of Licenses and Permits, Key Federal Agencies with Oversight over Explosives, Explosives Thefts | Explosives | Newsletter |
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To meet the requirement for removal from GCA and NFA provisions, ATF has previously explained that acceptable methods of destruction include completely melting, shredding, or crushing the firearm silencer. View more information on how to properly destroy a silencer. | Firearms | Guide |
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Excel spreadsheet with final 2020 AFMER report data. | Firearms | Report |
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January 2022 compliance inspection results. | Firearms | Report |
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This publication defines what each Federal explosives permittee and limited permitee must do for compliance, as per the Federal explosives regulations, at 27 CFR, Part 555. | Explosives | Guide |