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Publications

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.

Document type Description Category
Report Firearms Trace Data: North Dakota - 2014 [PDF - 1.56 MB]

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2014, on firearms recovered and traced, firearm types, calibers, source states, time-to-crime rates, possessor age, top recovery locations and more. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Report 2019 - Arson Incident Report (AIR) [PDF - 3.6 MB]

The Annual Arson Incident Report (AIR) reviews arson-related incidents from data reported to the United States Bomb Data Center (USBDC) through the Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS).

Published/Revised:

Arson
Report 2019 - Explosives Incident Report (EIR) [PDF - 2.31 MB]

The Annual Explosives Incident Report (EIR) reviews explosives-related incidents from data reported to the United States Bomb Data Center (USBDC) through the Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS).

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Regulatory ATF Industry Circular 77-20: Duplication of Serial Numbers on Imported Firearms [PDF - 360.49 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.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2020 - April - Public Advisory - Business Premises Guidance [PDF - 271.68 KB]

Letter to all federal firearms licensees (FFLs) in response to questions from industry members regarding the legality of firearm sales and deliveries exterior to the brick-and-mortar structure at which the firearms business is licensed, in light of the March 13, 2020, declaration of a national emergency concerning the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and the Department of Homeland Security's subsequent classification of firearms businesses as essential.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Report 2016 - Arson Incident Report (AIR) [PDF - 3.14 MB]

The Annual Arson Incident Report (AIR) reviews arson-related incidents from data reported to the United States Bomb Data Center (USBDC) through the Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS).

Published/Revised:

Arson
Report 2018 - Arson Incident Report (AIR) [PDF - 6.57 MB]

The Annual Arson Incident Report (AIR) reviews arson-related incidents from data reported to the United States Bomb Data Center (USBDC) through the Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS).

Published/Revised:

Arson
Regulatory 2020 - March - Michigan - All FFLs - Public Advisory Regarding Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act [PDF - 566.92 KB]

The purpose of this public safety advisory is to advise all Michigan federal firearms licensees (FFLs) of an important change to the procedure they must follow to comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady law), 18 U.S.C. § 922(t), when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory Factoring Criteria for Weapons - ATF Form 4590 (5330.5) [PDF - 168.36 KB]

Form used by ATF to factor the importability of a pistol or revolver.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Report 2019 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Theft/Loss Report [PDF - 446.1 KB]

Queries of the Firearms Tracing System (FTS) were used to determine which firearms were reported in Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Thefts/Losses. This information was extracted from the FTS on January 2, 2020.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2007-1 - Maintaining Required Explosives Records in Computerized Form [PDF - 20.71 KB]

Under specified conditions, approval is granted to utilize computerized records as required records under 27 CFR 555, Subpart G.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Regulatory Final Rule - Commerce in Firearms and Ammunition - Reporting Theft or Loss of Firearms in Transit [PDF - 699.67 KB]

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) concerning the statutory reporting requirement for firearms that have been stolen or lost. The final rule specifies that when a federal firearms licensee (FFL) discovers a firearm it shipped was stolen or lost in transit, the transferor/sender FFL must report the theft or loss to ATP and to the appropriate local authorities within 48 hours of discovery.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2019 - December - All FFLs - Franklin Armory Reformation Firearm [PDF - 1.09 MB]

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATP) has received questions from industry members and the general public regarding a new type of firearm produced by the Franklin Armory®. This 'firearm, known as the "Reformation", utilizes a barrel that is produced with straight lands and grooves. This design contrasts with conventional rifling, in which the barrel's lands and grooves are spiral or twisted, and are designed to impart a spin onto the projectile.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory ATF Industry Circular 72-4: Implementation on the National Environmental Policy Act [PDF - 136.97 KB]

This Revenue Procedure sets out procedures for furnishing environmental information concerning proposed activities for which applications, notices, bonds, and formulas (hereinafter referred to as applications) are filed with the Internal Revenue Service, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Published/Revised:

Workforce and Mission
Regulatory ATF Industry Circular 72-30: Identification of Personal Firearms at Premises [PDF - 361 KB]

The purpose of this circular is to urge licensed firearms dealers to identify their personal collection of firearms kept at the business premises.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory ATF Industry Circular 86-12: Explosives Security [PDF - 192.99 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.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Regulatory ATF Industry Circular 74-13: Verification of Identity and Status of Firearms Transferees [PDF - 499.11 KB]

The purpose of this circular is to remind firearms dealers, manufacturers, and importers of the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44, and Subpart F of the Regulations thereunder (26 CFR 178) pertaining to sales or deliveries of firearms or ammunition between licensees.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory ATF Industry Circular 75-8: Multiple Sales of Pistols [PDF - 3.71 MB]

The purpose of this circular is to inform you of the specific provisions of revised regulations that require a Federal firearms licensee to make a report of a multiple sale or other disposition of pistols and revolvers.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory ATF Industry Circular 76-3: Explosives Security [PDF - 578.04 KB]

Federal explosives licensees and permittees, and others concerned:  On Dec. 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.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Regulatory ATF Industry Circular 75-9: Recodification [PDF - 618.81 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.

Published/Revised:

Workforce and Mission
Regulatory ATF Industry Circular 77-11: Theft or Loss of Explosives [PDF - 474.67 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 Firearms Bulletin for May 1977.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Regulatory ATF Industry Circular 79-4: National Conference on Explosives Control [PDF - 355.25 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, Sept. 25-27, 1979.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Regulatory ATF Industry Circular 81-5: National Conference on Explosives Control [PDF - 214.41 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.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Regulatory ATF Industry Circular 83-9: Three Year Firearms Licenses [PDF - 498.62 KB]

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

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory ATF Industry Circular 84-3: Armed and Dangerous Notification [PDF - 851.75 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.

Published/Revised:

Workforce and Mission
Last Updated: January 15, 2026

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