Publications

Through a final rule published June 20, 2000, in the Federal Register, ATF is amending its regulations and affected forms to comply with Model Regulations for the Control of the International Movement of Firearms, Their Parts and Components, and Ammunition (the Model Regulations).

Published/Revised: June 26, 2000

Authority delegation. This final rule places most ATF authorities contained in parts 4, 5, and 7, title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), with the “appropriate ATF officer” and requires that persons file documents required by parts 4, 5, and 7, title 27 CFR, with the “appropriate ATF officer” or in accordance with the instructions on the ATF form. Also, this final rule removes the definitions of, and references to, specific officers subordinate to the Director. Concurrently with this Treasury Decision, ATF Order 1130.2A is being published. Through this order, the Director has delegated most of the authorities in 27 CFR parts 4, 5 and 7 to the appropriate ATF officers and specified the ATF officers with whom applications, notices and other reports that are not ATF forms are filed. Finally, this final rule removes the definition of, and a reference to, the Director in part 16, title 27 CFR.

Published/Revised: January 3, 2000

This temporary rule implements some of the provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. The new law sets forth the requirement that, beginning Jan. 1, 2000, importers of tobacco products qualify for a permit to conduct that activity. Implementing changes, including a transitional rule, are made to part 275. In addition, clarifying changes are made to part 275. In the Proposed Rules section of this Federal Register, ATF is also issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking inviting comments on this temporary rule for a 60-day period following the publication of this temporary rule.

Published/Revised: December 22, 1999

This temporary rule implements the provision of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 relating to the new permit requirements on the manufacture of roll-your-own tobacco. This temporary rule also removes references to forms which have previously been made obsolete, and renumbers certain forms to reflect the current ATF numbering system.

Published/Revised: December 22, 1999

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has now notified ATF and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that they will cease operations as the NICS point of contact on Sept. 30, 1999.  Therefore, beginning Oct. 1, 1999, in order to initiate a NICS check for any firearm, South Carolina licensees must contact the FBI's NICS Operations Center

Published/Revised: September 3, 1999

Authority delegation. This final rule places most ATF authorities contained in part 1, title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), with the “appropriate ATF officer” and requires that persons file documents required by part 1, title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), with the “appropriate ATF officer” or in accordance with the instructions on the ATF form. Also, this final rule removes the definitions of, and references to, specific officers subordinate to the Director.  Concurrently with this Treasury Decision, ATF Order 1130.6 is being published. Through this order, the Director has delegated most of the authorities in 27 CFR part 1 to the appropriate ATF officers and specified the ATF officers with whom applications, notices and other reports that are not ATF forms are filed.

Published/Revised: July 7, 1999

This Treasury decision changes the titles "Regional Director (Compliance)" to "Director of Industry Operations" and "Chief, Firearms and Explosives Licensing Center" to "Chief, National Licensing Center." It also replaces the term "region" with "division" and the term "regional counsel" with "Assistant Chief Counsel and Division Counsel." Finally, the decision replaces the words "local ATF office (compliance)" with "local ATF office." The changes are to provide clarity and uniformity throughout Title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Published/Revised: March 12, 1999

This final rule implements certain provisions of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-132). These regulations implement the law by requiring detection agents for plastic explosives. The final rule also authorizes the use of four specific detection agents to mark plastic explosives and provides for the designation of other detection agents.

Published/Revised: March 10, 1999

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation will cease its operations as the NICS point of contact on March 31, 1999. Therefore, beginning April 1, 1999, in order to initiate a NICS check for any firearm, Colorado licensees must contact the FBI's NICS Operations Center.

Published/Revised: March 2, 1999

This final rule places most ATF authorities contained in part 24, title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), with the appropriate ATF officer and requires that persons file documents required by part 24, title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), with the appropriate ATF officer or in accordance with the instructions on the ATF form. Also, this final rule removes the definitions of, and references to, specific officers subordinate to the Director. 

Published/Revised: February 9, 1999

The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in South Carolina of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised: November 13, 1998

The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in New Jersey of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised: November 10, 1998

The Omnibus Appropriations Act for 1999 provides that a pawnbroker may complete a NICS check when a firearm is offered as collateral for a loan, at the option of the dealer. ATF will be publishing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking setting forth the procedures pawnbrokers must follow if they wish to complete the optional NICS check at the time a firearm is offered for pawn.

Published/Revised: October 30, 1998

The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in North Dakota of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised: October 30, 1998

The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in New Hampshire of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady Law.

Published/Revised: October 28, 1998

The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in Vermont of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 

Published/Revised: October 26, 1998

The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in New Mexico of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised: October 23, 1998

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is amending the regulations to implement the provisions of Public Law 103-159, relating to the permanent provisions of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. These regulations implement the law by requiring, with some exceptions, a licensed firearms importer, manufacturer, or dealer to contact the national instant criminal background check system (NICS) before transferring any firearm to an unlicensed individual. NICS will advise the licensee whether the system contains any information that the prospective purchaser is prohibited by law from possessing or receiving a firearm.

Published/Revised: October 16, 1998

This final rule amends regulations relating to the manufacturers excise tax on firearms and ammunition. Under 26 U.S.C. 4181, a tax is imposed on the sale by the manufacturer, importer or producer of firearms, shells, and cartridges. The tax is 10 percent of the sale price for pistols and revolvers, 11 percent for firearms (other than pistols and revolvers), and 11 percent for shells and cartridges. Current regulations provide that no tax is imposed by section 4181 on the sale of parts or accessories of firearms, pistols, revolvers, shells, and cartridges when sold separately or when sold with a complete firearm. This final rule amends the regulations to clarify which parts and accessories must be included in the sale price when calculating the tax on firearms.

Published/Revised: August 3, 1998

This final rule amends regulations to clarify the meanings of terms, increase license and permit fees, eliminate duplication in licensing, relax the licensing requirements for on-site manufacturers, implement a storage notification requirement for manufacturers and other storers of explosives, update the theft/loss hotline number for reporting thefts or losses of explosives, and make minor modifications to regulations on storage.

Published/Revised: July 14, 1998

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is amending the firearms regulations to require that signs be posted on the premises of Federal firearms licensees and that written notification be issued with each handgun sold advising of the provisions of the Youth Handgun Safety Act.

Published/Revised: June 6, 1998

This final rule establishes a viticultural area located in Mendocino County, California, to be known as ``Yorkville Highlands,'' and extends the southern boundary of the Mendocino Viticultural Area to coincide with the boundary of Yorkville Highlands. These actions are the result of a petition filed by Mr. William J.A. Weir for the Yorkville Highlands Appellation Committee and a related petition filed by Ms. Bernadette A. Byrne, Executive Director of the Mendocino Winegrowers Alliance.

Published/Revised: April 7, 1998

This final rule adopts without change temporary regulations published in the Federal Register on July 16, 1996. The temporary rule amended the regulations in 27 CFR part 53 that require exemption certificates or vendee statements in support of certain tax-free sales of firearms and ammunition. As amended by the temporary rule and this final rule, the regulations provide that taxpayers may use a pre-printed document as an exemption certificate or vendee statement, or design their own certificate and statement using specified information. The regulatory amendments are part of the Administration's efforts to reduce regulatory burdens and streamline requirements.

Published/Revised: January 13, 1998

These final regulations implement the provisions of Public Law 103-322, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. This Treasury decision adopts the regulations substantially as proposed in Notice No. 807, as amended by Notice No. 833.

Published/Revised: August 11, 1997

The purpose of this letter is to address the Supreme Court's decision regarding that part of the Brady Handgun Control Act is unconstitutional.

Published/Revised: June 27, 1997