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
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - July 1986 (299 KB)
What’s In This Issue: AN OPEN LETTER TO LICENSEES AND OTHERS CONCERNED Stephen E. Higgins, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; PRESIDENT SIGNS NEW GUN LAW; NEWS YOU CAN USE
Firearms Newsletter
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - January 2007 (7709 KB)

What’s In This Issue: Federal Firearms License Enhancement; Scanned or emailed copies of federal Firearms Licenses; New email Service Available to Federal Firearms Licensees; Violent Crime Impact teams Stop Criminals From Unlawfully Engaging in the Business of Dealing in Firearms; Changes and Improvements to eZ Check; Requirements of Pawn Dealers Performing a Pre-Pawn NICS Check; Results from FY-05 firearms Compliance Inspections; ATF Requirement to Update Licensee Contact Information; ATF Form 4473 Completion and NICS Check; FBI/NICS News

Firearms Newsletter
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - February 1979 (192 KB)
What’s In This Issue: REGISTERED FIREARMS AND WEAPONS Certain Firearms And Weapons Must Be Registered with The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Examples Of NFA Weapons; Tax To make Or Transfer An A Weapon, By An Individual; Licensed Collectors Of Curios And Relics; Application To Make Or Transfer An NFA Weapon; Storage Of NFA Weapons; Bringing An NFA Weapon Into The United States; Turning In An Unregistered NFA Weapon; The 1968 Amnesty Period; Penalties
Firearms Newsletter
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - August 2004 (117 KB)

What’s In This Issue: Attorney General Ashcroft Appoints Carl J. Truscott As Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms And Explosives; Contiguous State – Part 2; New Tennessee “Certificate For Driving” Is Not An Acceptable Identification Document; Sales To Military Personnel –Residency Verification; FFL EZ Check System; Retention Period For Importer And Manufacturer Records; Is An Expired Driver’s License A Valid Identification Document?; Transportation Of Firearms; Possession Of Handguns By Persons Who Are Under 21 Years Of Age; 5-Year Period For “Grandfathered” Permits Ends; Firearms Transfers After The Mandatory 3-Business Day Waiting Period Has Elapsed And No Response Has Been Received From NICS; 90-Day Residency Requirement For The Purchase Of Firearms By Nonimmigrant Aliens; Reorganization Of Title 27, Code Of Federal Regulations; What Is A Letter Of Continuing Authorization?; (Sample Letter Of Authorization); Activities Authorized By Licensed Collectors Of Curio Or Relic Firearms; Possible Confusion Regarding How To Import Surplus Military Firearms Or Nonsporting Firearms For Law Enforcement Officers; New Firearms Theft/Loss Reporting Form; FBI/NICS

Firearms Newsletter
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - August 1996 (113 KB)
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
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - April 2015 (624 KB)
What’s in This Issue: SHOT Show 2015; New Appointments in Enforcement Programs and Services; ATF Outreach Activities; Organizational Change for Firearms; Technology Branch; Automation of CBP Form I-94; Return of Firearms Received for Appraisal; Revised Federal Firearms License (FFL); Renewal Application (ATF Form 8); Reminders: Reporting Deceased Responsible; Persons to the Federal Firearms Licensing; Center and Submission of Original and Renewal Applications; Use of Internal Control Numbers on ATF; Form 6 Part I; Reminder: Reporting Multiple Sales of Handguns or Certain Rifles; Who to Contact with your Firearms Related Questions
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 Licensee Newsletter - 2019 (319 KB)

What's in This Issue: ATF Personnel Changes; Electronic Storage of ATF Form 4473s; ATF Procedure 2017-1; ATF Form 5; ATF For 4473: Clarification on Disqualifiers Related to Military Service; Electronic Signatures on ATF Forms; NFA Forms Common Errors; ATF FFL Alert System; Replacement Copies of NFA Tax Paid Transfer Forms; FFL Renewals, Updated Form 7 and much more.

Firearms Newsletter
Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter - June 2021 (943 KB)

What's in this issue: What is a Straw Purchase; Silencer Markings and Registration Requirements; Changes to ATF Form 4473; State of Residence and Identification; NICS Alternative Permits and Age Restrictions;  Medical Marijuana and CBD Products; Private Party Sales; Internet Sales; Firearm Raffles; Firearm Registry; Variance Requests and the Approval Process; Special Occupational Tax Requirement – Business Locations; Reminders – Renewals / RPs / FFLC Address / AFMER ; and NFA Forms Processing Times

Firearms Newsletter
Federal Firearm Licensees Newsletter - September 1995 (245 KB)
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
Federal Explosives Licensing Center (FELC) (Presentation - Sept. 2020) (326 KB)

This presentation provides an overview of the Federal Explosives Licensing Center’s (FELC)responsibilities for reviewing and processing all new applications for federal explosives licenses and/or permits as well as renewals, the background check process, and ensuring sufficiency of information received.

Explosives Guide
February 2024 - Firearms Compliance Inspection Results (13 KB)

February 2024 - Firearms Compliance Inspection Results

Firearms Report
February 2023 - Firearms Compliance Inspection Results (13 KB)

February 2023 - Firearms Compliance Inspection Results

Firearms Report
Facilitating Private Sales: A Federal Firearms Licensee Guide (2396 KB)

We’ve put together this guide to educate federal firearms licensees (FFLs) on how to facilitate private party sales of firearms. When individuals decide to use FFLs to facilitate the private sale of their firearms, it can enhance public safety, assist law enforcement, and help ensure firearms end up only in the hands of those who are legally allowed to possess them.

Firearms Guide
Explosives Industry Newsletter-September 2006 (102 KB)
What’s In This Issue: What’s in this issue: Mr. Mark D. Jones Appointed as the Deputy Chief, Arson and Explosives Programs Division; Compliance Issues Involving the Fireworks Industry; License or Permit; Table of Distances; Incomplete Applications; Securing Storage Magazines; Q and A; Daily Summary of Magazine Transactions (Revisited)
Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter-November 2002 (1735 KB)
What’s In This Issue: A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF, ARSON & EXPLOSIVES PROGRAMS DIVISION; ATF HOSTS EXPLOSIVES INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE MEETING; VARIANCES; EPA AND THE TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT; NEW INDUSTRY CIRCULARS; INTERNATIONAL EXPLOSIVES ASSISTANCE & COORDINATION; FUGITIVE CORNER; A $20,000 Reward is being offered by ATF for information leading to the arrest of STEPHEN HOWARD ANDERSON; EXPLOSIVE QUESTIONS; NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION; THIRD QUARTER 2002 EXPLOSIVE THEFTS
Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter-May 2002 (1852 KB)
What’s In This Issue: A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF, ARSON & EXPLOSIVES PROGRAMS DIVISION; CHANGES IN THE A & E DIVISION; BULK SALUTES AND LICENSING; VIOLENT OFFENDER BRANCH GETS NEW CHIEF; OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSET CONTROLS (OFAC) RESTRICTIONS; PHONENUMBER FOR NATIONAL LICENSING CENTER CHANGED; ATF’S LAB NEW FIRST RESPONSE FIELD LAB VEHICLES; ATF MEETS WITH ISEE, APA; EXPLOSIVES QUESTIONS; EXPLOSIVES FORMS; FUGITIVE CORNER; NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION; FIRST QUARTER 2002 EXPLOSIVE THEFTS
Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter-June 2013 (1556 KB)
What’s in This Issue: New Publication; Exploding Ammunition Requirements; Smoke Producing Devices; Reagents; Canadian Type 4 Magazines vs. U.S. Type 2 Magazines; Hardwood or Softwood?; Interior Walls for Type 1 Magazines; Gun Loading Facilities; Horizontally-Mounted Hoods; Indoor Storage Reminders; Recordkeeping Reminders; Permittee Disposal of Surplus Stock; Questions and Answers; Explosives Thefts from 2006 thru 2012
Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter-June 2012 .pdf (1440 KB)
What’s In This Issue: ATF Celebrates 40 Years of Public Service; New Publications; ATF Ruling 2012-2, Uncovered Firework Bins; Storage of EPCDs Aboard Fishing Vessels; ATF Regulation of 1.4 Materials; Recording in the Daily Summary of Magazine Transactions; Aluminum Type 2 and Type 3 Magazines; Advertised as “ATF Approved”; ATF to Host Explosives Regulatory Conference; Questions and Answers; Explosives Thefts Reported During 2011
Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter-June 2010.pdf (1732 KB)
What’s In This Issue: Changes in Headquarters Personnel;Change of Ownership versus Change of Control; Storage of Shock Tube with Detonators; ATF Ruling—Placement and Visibility of Containers in Magazines; Inspecting Magazines; Type-5 Locking Requirements; Rubberized Lining in Type-3 and Type-4 Magazines; Reviewing Variances; Fireworks and Fires in the United States; Theft Discovery and Reporting; Orange Book Errata
Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter-June 2009 (1721 KB)
What’s in this Issue: New Chief of Explosives Industry Programs; New Web Pages; Fireworks Safety and Storage Illegal Explosives Fireworks Recordkeeping; Variance Updated Fireworks Q and A; As Simplified License and Permit Structure Change of Control Scanned or E-Mailed Licenses Igniter Storage with Rocket Motors in Attached Garages Locking Issues Bullet; Resistance for Type-2 Indoor Storage Detonator Boxes Explosives Thefts
Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter-June 2005 (675 KB)
What’s in this issue: Changes in the Arson and Explosives Programs Division; Director’s Speech at the ISEE National Conference; New Federal Explosives Licensing Center; Reporting Changes in Responsible Persons and Employees Authorized to Possess Explosive Materials; Reporting Procedures For Explosives Transactions; Storage of More Than 300,000 Pounds of Explosives; ATF Inspections
Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter-June 2004 (639 KB)
What’s in this issue: A Message from the Chief, Arson & Explosives Programs Division; New Director, Deputy Director of ATF Announced Lewis P. Raden Named Assistant Director(Enforcement Programs and Services); Changes in the Arson and Explosives Programs Division; Volatile Organic Compounds; Manufacture of Binary Explosives; Manufacture of Binary Explosives; ATF Attends Conferences; Indoor Storage Magazine Locking Requirements; New Annual List of Explosives Published; Thefts and Loss Reporting Requirements; Theft of Explosives as Reported to ATF
Explosives Newsletter
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
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
Email Updates

Subscribe to receive news and update from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives