Publications

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Idaho 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Illinois 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Indiana 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) who engage in importing, manufacturing or dealing in National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms are required to file this form and pay the special occupational tax (SOT), an annual tax that begins on July 1 and ends June 30.

Published/Revised: December 8, 2023

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

This letter has been rescinded. The provision of Oregon State law regarding all firearms background checks was recently amended. Effective Dec. 8, 2000, the Oregon State Police will act as the point of contact for all firearms background checks (handguns and long guns).

Published/Revised: December 12, 2000

The ATF has received inquiries from California Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) concerning the correct procedure for completing Firearms Transaction Records, ATF Forms 4473, while complying with the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) Entry System (DES) transaction procedures. 

Published/Revised: May 28, 2015

The purpose of this letter is to provide clarification and guidance on alternative permit procedures that comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act (Brady law) for firearms transfers to unlicensed persons in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This open letter supersedes the 2006 Open Letter to All Kentucky Federal Firearms Licensees with respect to alternatives to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) background check.

Published/Revised: May 17, 2015

The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance on your obligations as a Federal Firearms Licensee. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is providing you with the following information, intended to assist you in complying with Title 18 United States Code, Chapter 44.

Published/Revised: May 28, 2010

The purpose of this open letter is to advise you of an important change to the procedure you may follow to comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. This open letter supersedes the document by the same title, posted on April 8, 2010.

Published/Revised: May 9, 2011

The purpose of this letter is to apprise Federally licensed collectors of pertinent regulations of the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA).  In this letter are some major "do's and don'ts" for collectors that are based on these provisions.

Published/Revised: January 18, 2001

The purpose of this open letter is to provide all State Attorneys General and State Tobacco Tax Administrators with information on amendments to the Jenkins Act. 

Published/Revised: October 21, 2010

The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance to persons who sell, transfer, or ship for profit cigarettes or smokeless tobacco in interstate commerce or who advertise cigarettes or smokeless tobacco for such sale, transfer, or shipment on amendments to the Jenkins Act. 

Published/Revised: October 21, 2010

In response to the recent number of inquiries from licensed importers concerning the importation of surplus military curio or relic firearms and the submission of supporting documentation, ATF has published ATF Ruling 2001-3.

Published/Revised: November 15, 2001

On Feb. 9, 2001, ATF published a ruling that establishes a final deadline and ends the registration period for individuals who are currently in possession of the Streetsweeper, Striker-12, and the USAS-12 shotguns. The registration period for these shotguns will expire on May 1, 2001.

Published/Revised: April 10, 2001

The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance on your obligations as a federal firearms licensee (FFL) and the passage of the Montana Firearms Freedom Act.

Published/Revised: July 16, 2009

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regarding administrative hearings held as part of firearms license proceedings. This rule clarifies that persons requesting a hearing will be afforded the opportunity to submit facts and arguments for review and consideration during the hearing, and may make offers of settlement before and after the hearing. 

Published/Revised: May 23, 2016

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking, in part, pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) which requires an agency to review within ten years of publication, rules for which an agency prepared a final regulatory flexibility analysis addressing the impact of the rule on small businesses or other small entities. Based on comments we have received in response to the RFA analysis, this document proposes amendments to the explosives regulations relating to fireworks.

Published/Revised: September 25, 2015

The purpose of this Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) procedure is to set forth the recordkeeping and National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) procedures for a Federal firearms licensee (FFL) who facilitates the transfer of firearms between private unlicensed individuals. This procedure does not apply to pawn transactions, consignment sales, or repairs. Supersedes 2013-1 Procedure.

Published/Revised: July 28, 2017

37/38 mm gas/flare guns possessed with cartridges containing wood pellets, rubber pellets or balls, or bean bags are classified as destructive devices for purposes of the Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44, and the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53. 

Published/Revised: January 1, 1995

Certain reporting and recordkeeping requirements of pawnbrokers are explained.

Published/Revised: March 1, 1976

ATF prescribes alternate bullet resistance construction standards for explosives storage facilities.

Published/Revised: June 23, 1976

Mere possession of a license and a special tax stamp as a dealer in firearms does not qualify a person to receive firearms transfer-tax-free. Rev. Rul. 58-432 superseded.

Published/Revised: February 1, 1976

The KG-9 pistol is a machinegun as defined in the National Firearms Act.

Published/Revised: January 19, 1982

The SM10 and SM11A1 pistols and SAC carbines are machineguns as defined in the National Firearms Act.

Published/Revised: June 21, 1982