Publications

The purpose of this letter is to clarify the definition of "display fireworks" in the federal explosives regulations. 

Published/Revised: November 7, 2011

The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance on the issue of marijuana for medicinal purposes and its applicability to federal firearms laws.

Published/Revised: November 21, 2011

This open letter is to all federally recognized Indian tribes and explosives licensees and permittees and provides guidance regarding the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010. The law created an exemption for federally recognized Indian tribes or tribal agencies from provisions of the Federal explosives laws with respect to display fireworks.

Published/Revised: March 15, 2011

This open letter has been rescinded. The provisions of North Dakota law regarding the issuance of concealed weapons permits were recently amended.  Based on these changes, concealed weapons permits issued on or after Dec. 1, 1999, will now qualify as alternatives to a NICS check at the time of transfer.

Published/Revised: July 29, 2025

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

The purpose of the this open letter is to provide guidance on certain regulatory requirements and definitions under the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) about selling or delivering firearm frames or receivers.

Published/Revised: July 7, 2009

The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance on your obligations as a federal firearms licensee (FFL) with respect to the passage of the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act that took effect on June 19, 2009. 

Published/Revised: July 16, 2009

The purpose of this letter is to provide Federal explosives licensees and permittees with information about the recent district court decision regarding ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP). 

Published/Revised: July 17, 2009

The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance regarding firearms transferees whose only identification documents indicate only Post Office Box or Rural Route number as a residence address.

Published/Revised: July 7, 2007

The purpose of this letter is to advise New York Federal firearms licensees that the New York license to carry and possess handguns  no longer qualifies as an alternative to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. 

Published/Revised: May 2, 2006

This letter is to provide information to tribal law enforcement departments regarding the Omnibus Consolidation Appropriations Act of 1997.  This Act made it unlawful for any person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (MCDV) to ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms or ammunitions.

Published/Revised: August 16, 2006

The purpose of this open letter is to advise that the recent amendment to what was formerly known as Kentucky's contiguous state law has no effect on federal firearms laws and regulations.

Published/Revised: June 25, 2007

The purpose of this open letter is to inform licensed firearms importers and registered importers of U.S. Munitions Import List Articles that the United States Department of State has rescinded the sanctions on trade in defense articles and services from South Africa.

Published/Revised: July 11, 2005

The purpose of this letter is to provide notification that the ATF will be switching to electronic funds processing (ECP) for all payments received by the agency.

Published/Revised: January 25, 2008

This Open Letter is to advise all Federal Firearms Licensees and registered importers of U.S. munitions import list articles that ATF was advised by the Department of State, on a case-by-case basis, permit the retransfer of U.S. manufacturing military firearms that were sold or granted by the United States Government classified by ATF as curios or relics.

Published/Revised: July 12, 2005

The purpose of this letter is to inform Federal firearms licensees that the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) National Instant Criminal Background Check System's (NICS) Voluntary Appeal File (VAF) has been established.

Published/Revised: December 15, 2004

The open letter is to inform all Washington State federal firearms licensees that as of Nov. 30, 2003, all the grandfathered permits will have expired, and Washington FFLs may longer accept a Washington concealed weapons permit as an alternative to a NICS check.

Published/Revised: December 15, 2004

The purpose of this letter is to advise you of an important change to the procedure you may follow beginning Jan. 5, 2006. On this day, Nevada's Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) permit will again qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. Accordingly, the Oct. 17, 2005, Open Letter to Nevada Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) is superseded.

Published/Revised: January 5, 2006

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: December 19, 2019

This open letter has been rescinded. The State of Vermont has advised us that effective Feb. 1, 2002, it will no longer act as a point of contact for NICS checks. In the absence of any further Vermont legislation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation will assume responsibility for conducting NICS checks for firearms transactions in Vermont on Feb. 1, 2002.

Published/Revised: July 29, 2025

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this public safety advisory is to notify you of an important change to the procedure you may follow to comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act (Brady Act), when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person.

Published/Revised: July 29, 2025

This open letter has been rescinded. The correction notice corrects an error found in the ATF open letter, dated Nov. 10, 1998, regarding the point of contact for background checks firearm transfers. 

Published/Revised: July 29, 2025

This open letter has been rescinded.  This correction notice is an update to the original background check letter, dated Oct. 28, 1998. The State of New Hampshire has elected to participate as a NICS point of contact for handguns.

Published/Revised: July 29, 2025

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