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 |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
This notice provides information about the laws and public responsibility regarding firearms near to or in school zones.
| Firearms | Guide |
![]() |
The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act) provides crucial information about firearms buyers to Federal firearms licensees (FFLs), but does not help nonlicensees to identify prohibited purchasers. Under the Brady Act, FFLs contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to ensure that a purchaser is not a felon or otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms. Until the Brady Act was passed, the only way an FFL could determine whether a purchaser was a felon or other person prohibited from possessing firearms was on the basis of the customer's self-certification.
| Resource Center | Guide |
![]() |
National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Crime Guns - Volume Two Report | Firearms | Report |
![]() |
National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Crime Gun Intelligence and Analysis - Volume Two | Firearms | Report |
![]() |
From the 34th Edition of State Laws and Published Ordinances - Firearms (ATF P 5300.5) | Firearms | Guide |
![]() |
This brochure contains trace data related information from January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014. | About ATF | Report |
![]() |
Location of Abandoned/Unclaimed Property by State for 4/8/2025 | Asset Forfeiture | Report |
![]() |
National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Crime Guns - Volume Two Report | Firearms | Report |
![]() |
A firearm is recovered by law enforcement. ATF receives recovery information in e-Trace. Trace reveals origin of firearm manufacturer or importer. Trace leads to the original Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) * FFL manually looks through firearm transaction records to find the first purchaser. ** The first purchaser is identified and the investigative process is initiated. ** 364,000+ trace requests in FY14. * Not all traces may lead to original FFL; sales sometimes lead beyond that to a subsequent FFL. ** First purchaser is not always identified, sometimes traces lead to a more recent purchaser or an unlicensed purchaser. | News | Guide |
![]() |
This publication provides guidelines on how to conduct a firearms inventory.
| Firearms | Guide |
![]() |
National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Crime Guns - Volume Two Report | Firearms | Report |
![]() |
National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Crime Guns - Volume Two Report | Firearms | Report |
![]() |
From the 34th Edition of State Laws and Published Ordinances - Firearms (ATF P 5300.5) | Firearms | Guide |
![]() |
This brochure contains trace data related information from January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014. | About ATF | Report |
![]() |
National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Crime Guns - Volume Two Report | Firearms | Report |
![]() |
From the 34th Edition of State Laws and Published Ordinances - Firearms (ATF P 5300.5) | Firearms | Guide |
![]() |
This brochure contains trace data related information from January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014. | About ATF | Report |
![]() | Asset Forfeiture | Report | |
![]() |
Location of Abandoned/Unclaimed Property by State for 4/8/2025 | Asset Forfeiture | Report |
![]() |
This notice applies to activities permitted at bona fide gun shows, as defined in Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 478.100. Federal firearms licensees ("FFLs" or "Dealers") may only sell firearms at gun shows within the state in which their licensed premise is located. Revised June 2021.
| Firearms | Guide |
![]() |
National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Crime Guns - Volume Two Report | Firearms | Report |
![]() |
From the 34th Edition of State Laws and Published Ordinances - Firearms (ATF P 5300.5) | Firearms | Guide |
![]() |
This brochure contains trace data related information from January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014. | About ATF | Report |
![]() | Asset Forfeiture | Report | |
![]() |
Location of Abandoned/Unclaimed Property by State for 4/8/2025 | Asset Forfeiture | Report |