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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
Regulatory 1998 - October - Puerto Rico - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.88 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - North Dakota - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 44.75 KB]

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:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - Hawaii - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.86 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. On Nov. 30, 1998, the interim provisions of the Brady law will cease to apply, and the permanent provisions of the Brady law will take effect.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - Indiana - All FFLs - Establishment of National Instant Criminal Background Check System [PDF - 1.87 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. The permanent provisions of the Brady law provide for the establishment of a national instant criminal background check system (NICS) that licensees must contact before transferring any firearm to unlicensed individuals.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - Maryland - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.79 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - Maine - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.87 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - Michigan - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.43 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - Guam - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.67 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - Missouri - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.61 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - Mississippi - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.13 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - Minnesota - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.88 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - Massachusetts - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.87 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2003 - October - Massachusetts - License to Carry No Longer an Alternative to NICS Check [PDF - 78.08 KB]

This open letter is to inform all Massachusetts federal firearms licensees that as of Oct. 21, 2003, all previously grandfathered Massachusetts licenses to carry will have expired. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2011 - April - National - Submitting ATF Form 4 or Form 5 [PDF - 93.76 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance to any person submitting ATF Form 4, Application for Tax Paid Transfer and Registration of a Firearm, or with ATF Form 5, Application for Tax Exempt Transfer and Registration of a Firearm.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2011 - May - All FFLs - Complying with Recordkeeping Requirements When Initial NICS Response Changed [PDF - 101.56 KB]

The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance to Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) on how to comply with recordkeeping requirements when there is a change to the response initially received by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) during a background check for a firearm transfer.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2011 - August - All FFLs - September 11th Anniversary [PDF - 89.4 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to encourage all federal firearms licensees to increase their awareness and vigilance as the anniversary of September 11th approaches.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2011 - June - Iowa - Transferring a Firearm to an Unlicensed Person Using an Iowa Permit Alternative [PDF - 108.63 KB]

The open letter provides guidance to all Iowa federal firearms licensees when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person using an Iowa issued permit as an alternative to a NICS background check. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory Firearms Transaction Record Over-The-Counter - ATF Form 4473 (5300.9) [PDF - 416.57 KB]

Used by federal firearms licensees (FFLs) to determine if they may lawfully sell or deliver a firearm to the person identified in Section B, and to alert the transferee/buyer of certain restrictions on the receipt and possession of firearms.

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 2004-3 - Locking Requirements for Indoor Type 4 Storage Magazines [PDF - 10.82 KB]

ATF provides guidance on three different private roads and whether they are "highways" as defined in 27 CFR 555.11.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Regulatory 2005-2 - Meaning of Term Highway [PDF - 11.39 KB]

ATF provides guidance on three different private roads and whether they are "highways" as defined in 27 CFR 555.11.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Regulatory 2005-3 - Meaning of Term Inhabited Building [PDF - 16.1 KB]

ATF provides guidance on two situations involving structures and whether they are "inhabited buildings" as defined in 27 CFR Part 555.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Regulatory 2010-2 - Visibility of Marks on Explosives Containers Stored in Magazines [PDF - 28.97 KB]

ATF authorizes alternate storage of containers of explosive materials in magazines so that marks are not visible, provided all of the requirements stated in this ruling are met.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Regulatory 2007-3 - Preloading and Temporary Storage of Blasting Agents on Bulk Delivery Vehicles [PDF - 20.31 KB]

Under specified conditions, blasting agents may be stored in mobile type 5 magazines (bulk trucks) without meeting 27 CFR 555.211 immobilization requirements.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2006-2 - Classification of Devices Exclusively Designed to Increase the Rate of Fire of a Semiautomatic Firearm [PDF - 67.72 KB]

The NFA and GCA definition of machinegun includes a part or parts designed and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun. This language includes a device that, when activated by a single pull of the trigger, initiates an automatic firing cycle that continues until the finger is released or the ammunition supply is exhausted.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Last Updated: January 15, 2026

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