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.

Titlesort ascending Description Category Document Type
ATF Quarterly Bulletin 1999, Volume 2 (362 KB)

The Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Quarterly Bulletin is the authoritative instrument of the Bureau for announcing official rulings and procedures, and for publishing Treasury decisions, legislation, administrative matters, and other items of general interest. It incorporates, into one publication, matters of the Bureau, which are of public record.

Resource Center Report
ATF Quarterly Bulletin 1999, Volume 1 (898 KB) The Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Quarterly Bulletin is the authoritative instrument of the Bureau for announcing official rulings and procedures, and for publishing Treasury decisions, legislation, administrative matters, and other items of general interest. It incorporates, into one publication, matters of the Bureau, which are of public record. Resource Center Report
ATF Quarterly Bulletin 1998, Volume 3 (669 KB) The Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Quarterly Bulletin is the authoritative instrument of the Bureau for announcing official rulings and procedures, and for publishing Treasury decisions, legislation, administrative matters, and other items of general interest. It incorporates, into one publication, matters of the Bureau, which are of public record. Resource Center Report
ATF Procedure 2013-2 (55 KB)
This ATF procedure gives guidance to licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers (licensees) on how to record the sale of a firearm to an unlicensed person who:
a. Has a valid alternate permit or otherwise is exempt from National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) requirements;
b. Resides in the same State as the licensee; and
c. Does not appear in person at the licensee's business premises
 
Resource Center Guide
ATF P 5310.2 - Do I need a license to buy or sell firearms? (1273 KB)
ATF guidance to help the public understand when those who buy and sell firearms must have a federal firearms license.
Firearms Guide
ATF P 5300.21: Best Practices: Transfers of Firearms by Private Sellers (165 KB)
This publication provides best practices in regards to transfers of firearms by private sellers.
Firearms Guide
ATF O 3020.4 - Task Force Officer Body-Worn Camera (291 KB)

This order establishes direction for the use of non-Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) owned body-worn cameras (BWCs) by ATF Task Force Officers (TFOs) and Special Deputies (SD) on federal task forces. This policy provides parameters for the use of BWCs by TFOs to the extent that a state or local law enforcement agency requires their use by its officers during federal task force operations.

Resource Center Guide
ATF O 3020.3A - Special Agent Body-Worn Cameras (326 KB)

This order establishes direction on the use of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)-owned body-worn cameras (BWCs) by ATF special agents during properly authorized investigations and activities. For purposes of this policy, the term “BWC recordings,” refers to audio and video recordings and associated metadata recorded on ATF-owned BWCs while the agent is engaged in federal law enforcement operations to include the investigation of fugitives sought on state and local warrants adopted by a federal agency.

Resource Center Guide
ATF National Firearms Act Handbook (ATF P 5320.8) (10614 KB)

This handbook is primarily for the use of persons in the business of importing, manufacturing, and dealing in firearms defined by the National Firearms Act (NFA) or persons intending to go into an NFA firearms business. It should also be helpful to collectors of NFA firearms and other persons having questions about the application of the NFA. 

Firearms Guide
ATF Industry Circular 95-1: Diversion of Distilled Spirits for Purposes of Smuggling (37 KB)

This circular reminds proprietors of distilled spirits plants (DSPs), importers, wholesalers and other persons who purchase distilled spirits products from DSPs of their responsibility to comply with all applicable Federal and state laws with respect to such sales.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 95-1: Diversion of Distilled Spirits (52 KB)

This circular reminds proprietors of distilled spirits plants (DSPs), importers, wholesalers and other persons who purchase distilled spirits products from DSPs of their responsibility to comply with all applicable Federal and state laws with respect to such sales.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 93-5: Tax-Exempt and Tax-Free Sales of Firearms, Shells and Cartridges (827 KB) This circular gives general guidance to firearms and ammunition excise taxpayers about making tax-exempt or tax-free sales of firearms, and shells and cartridges (ammunition). Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 91-1: Explosives Security (1555 KB)

The purpose of this circular is to advise industry members of serious problems with storage of explosives which may pose a danger to the public, and to alert industry members to the possibility of theft of explosives by terrorists because of the deteriorating Mideast situation.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 89-6: Facsimile Transmitted Copies (1365 KB)

The purpose of this circular is to advise industry members that an ATF ruling will be published in a future issue of the ATF Quarterly Bulletin. The ruling will read substantially as follows: The ATF has been asked whether certain forms and other documents could optionally be transmitted to the Bureau by means of facsimile machines.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 86-12: Explosives Security (193 KB)

With the recent upsurge of terrorism in the world and particularly threats of terrorist activity in the United States, it is timely to again stress the importance of security for explosives.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 84-3: Armed and Dangerous Notification (852 KB)

The Bureau of ATF is investigating the criminal activities of a group of violent criminals known as the Sam Melville/Jonathan Jackson Brigade. This group is known for its violent acts, including the illegal use of firearms and explosives.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 84-10: Sales of Firearms by FFLs at Gun Shows (236 KB)

All Federal Firearms Licensees and Others Concerned: This is to notify you that as a result of a formal process which began on April 22, 1980, the regulations have been changed (effective November 29, 1984), to allow licensees to engage in business at gun shows held within the same State as the licensed premises.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 83-9: Three Year Firearms Licenses (499 KB)

The purpose of this circular is to inform you of a Treasury decision effective August 1, 1983, T.D. ATF - 135(48 FR 24065), implementing a three year firearms license.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 83-11: Potential Explosion Hazard in Ammunition Reloading Machines (219 KB)

This circular has been published to inform you of a potential explosion hazard relating to a malfunctioning of automatic ammunition reloading equipment.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 81-5: National Conference on Explosives Control (215 KB)

This circular is issued to inform you that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has scheduled a National Conference on Explosives to be held at the Bahia Hotel, in San Diego, California, May 19-21, 1981.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 79-4: National Conference on Explosives Control (356 KB)

This circular is issued to inform you that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has scheduled a National Conference on Explosives Control to be held at the Fountain Bay Hotel, in New Orleans, Louisiana, September 25-27, 1979.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 77-20: Duplication of Serial Numbers on Imported Firearms (361 KB)

Importers of Firearms and Destructive Devices: Recently, ATF has noted cases where some importers have adopted the same serial number for more than one firearm. These instances of duplication have generally occurred when firearms are received from more than one source.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 77-11: Theft or Loss of Explosives (475 KB)

This circular is to inform those involved in the manufacture, distribution, storage or use of explosives that ATF Ruling77-13, which deals with reporting theft or loss of explosive materials, was published in the Alcohol, Tobacco and Fireanns Bulletin for May 1977.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 76-3: Explosives Security (579 KB)

Federal explosives licensees and permittees, and others concerned:  On December 29, 1975, a bomb-blast ripped through New York's LaGuardia airport, killing 11 persons and injuring some 15 others. This tragic incident is but the latest in an alarming upward spiral of bombings that have occurred in cities, suburban communities, small towns and rural areas across America in recent years.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 75-9: Recodification (619 KB)

This circular is to advise industry members and others concerned that, effective April 15, 1975, Bureau regulations formerly codified as 26 CFR Parts 170 through 299 (Subchapter E--Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Excise Taxes) have been recodified into the Bureau's reserved Title 27 CFR Parts 170 through 299 (Subchapter M-Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Excise Taxes). This recodification merely relocates the regulations and makes no technical changes in requirements.

Resource Center Industry Circular
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