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
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
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - November 2012 (1254 KB)
What's in this issue: Customer Service Standards; Reminder: Top 10 Frequently Asked Firearms Questions and Answers; Receive Firearms Industry News; Electronic Devices Used to Verify Change of Address; Government Issued Documents Bearing an Incorrect Zip Code; PCS Orders and Military Dependents Purchasing Firearms; Licensed Manufacturer's Registration Requirement with the Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Control (DDTC); Guidance to FFLs Affected by Flooding and Other Natural Disasters; Ethnicity and Race on the ATF Form 4473; Firearms Shipments via Common or Contract Carrier; Out-of-Business Procedures; Out-of-Business with Succession; Residence as a Licensed Business Premises; New Move in EPS; Who to Contact with your Firearms Related Questions; FBI NICS News
Firearms Newsletter
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
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
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
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
Firearms Newsletter Index (184 KB)

Last updated July 2020.

Firearms Newsletter
Federal Firearms Newsletter - July 2017 (1106 KB)

What's in this issue: Announcement - ATF stands up the National Firearms Act (NFA) Division; Firearm Thefts & Burglaries; Burglary and Robbery Statistics; ATF Ruling 2016-1; ATF Ruling 2016-2; ATF Ruling 2016-3; ATF Ruling 2016-5; Revised ATF form 4473 (Firearms Transaction Record); Rental of Firearms On-Premises; Rental of Firearms Off-Premises; FFLs are Responsible for Retrieving Status when Using E-Check; Tips from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Section; Gun Shows

Firearms Newsletter
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - July 2017.pdf (1106 KB)
What’s In This Issue:  Announcement – ATF stands up the National Firearms Act (NFA) Division; Firearm Thefts & Burglaries; Burglary and Robbery Statistics; ATF Ruling 2016-1: Electronic A&D Records; ATF Ruling 2016-2; ATF Ruling 2016-3; ATF Ruling 2016-5; Revised ATF Form 4473 (Firearms Transaction Record); Rental of Firearms On-Premises; Rental of Firearms Off-Premises; FFLs are Responsible for Retrieving Status when Using E-Check; Tips from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Section; Gun Shows.
Firearms Newsletter
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - March 2013 - Volume 2 (591 KB)
What’s in This Issue: Reminder: Keep Your Contact Information Up to Date ; Reminder: eForm 6; Agency Information Collection Activities; Rental of Firearms On-Premises; Rental of Firearms Off-Premises; Clarification of ATF Ruling 2008–3: Making Corrections to the e4473; Recording Identification Documents on the ATF Form 4473—Military Identification and PCS Orders; Purchase of Firearms by Current or Former Law Enforcement Officers; Recording Pistol Grip Firearms in the Acquisition and Disposition Record; Manufacturing NFA Firearms for the United States Government; When Permission Is Required To Move NFA Firearms; Recordkeeping Requirements and Retention Requirements for Licensed Manufacturers; Clarification: Firearms Shipments via Common or Contract Carrier; Brokering of Firearms/Drop Shipments
Firearms Newsletter
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 1989 Volume 2 (369 KB)
What’s In This Issue: OUT-OF-STATE AND MAIL ORDER SALES; "STRAW PURCHASES" OF FIREARMS; FIREARMS TRANSACTION RECORDS ON TITLE II TRANSFERS; ATF DISTRIBUTION CENTER; ARMOR PIERCING AMMUNITION-UPDATE; CHANGE OF CONTROL; FORM 4473 OMISSIONS AND DISCREPANCIES; SALES TO UNDERAGED PERSONS; SPECIAL OCCUPATIONAL TAX; ATF IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS; PERMIT TO CARRY CONCEALED WEAPONS; ASSAULT RIFLES; GUN SHOW GUIDELINES
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
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 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 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 Licensees Newsletter - July 1989 (146 KB) What’s In This Issue: ATF DETERMINES SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT RIFLES CANNOT BE IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES; FACT SHEET Firearms Newsletter
NIBIN Newsletter - September 2014 (458 KB)

In this issue: Update - NIBIN Security System and Upgrades; Entering Confirmed and Unconfirmed Hits in IBIS; and Backlogs - The Big "What if..."

Firearms Newsletter
NIBIN Newsletter - March 2015 (413 KB)

At the June 2014 NIBIN User Congress in Phoenix, AZ, the NIBIN Program presented information on three major infrastructure upgrades that were in the works.

Firearms Newsletter
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