Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

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
Newsletter September 1995 - Volume 1 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 267.17 KB]

What's In This Issue: Streamlined Application Process; New Publications; New Faces; Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act Temporary Regulations; Firearms Theft; Restraining Orders; Law Enforcement Sales; Before You Move; Final Brady Regulations; Multiple Sales Reports; No Import Permits to ARMSCOR; Licensing Telephone; Change in Excise Tax Deposits; Going Out of Business; Restoration of Federal Firearms Privileges; The Net; Industry Meetings; Shot Show

Published/Revised: September 29, 1995

Firearms
Newsletter August 1996 - Volume 1 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 234.36 KB]

What's In This Issue: Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act; The Net; New Faces; Address Changes; Improving Firearms Security; Fingerprints; Letters of Authorization; Classification of Gas/Flare Guns With Anti-Personnel Ammunition as Destructive Devices; Processing Applications and Notices Associated With National Firearms Act Weapons Transactions; Multiple Sale Form; ATF Distribution Center; Gun Shows

Published/Revised: August 30, 1996

Firearms
Newsletter August 1997 - Volume 1 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 635.29 KB]

What's In This Issue: Legislative Issues; New Residency Requirements for Purchasers; Assault Weapon Receivers; Governmental Exemption to Semiautomatic Assault Weapon Ban; Meet the New Customer Service Specialist; Going Out of Business; Wallet Guns; ATF's Stolen Firearms Program

Published/Revised: August 29, 1997

Firearms
Newsletter August 1998 - Volume 1 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 240.03 KB]

What's In This Issue: National Instant Criminal Background System (NICS); New Firearms Transaction Record; Reporting Multiple Sales or Other Dispositions of Pistols and Revolvers; Age Restriction Reminder; Resolution of Modern Muzzle Loading Court Case; Firearms Sales to Foreign Nationals; National Firearms Act Information; Limited to Use as Sales Sample; Importing Information; Importation of Firearms for Display at Industry Trade Shows; FFL or Interstate Theft Procedures and Information; FFL Concerns and Alerts

Published/Revised: August 31, 1998

Firearms
Newsletter February 1999 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 258.95 KB]

What's In This Issue: ATF Distribution Center; Canadian Firearms Issues; NICS and Returned Firearms Issues; Age Restrictions on Firearms Transactions; Modern Muzzleloading Issues; Secure Gun Storage Devices Amendment; Nonresident Alien Prohibited Person Category; Relief of Disability Information; Gun Shows and Events; Sales of Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Devices to Campus Police Departments; Sales of Semiautomatic Assault Weapons to Law Enforcement Officers; Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Markings; Licensees Who Discontinue Business; Licensee Address and Mail Delivery Issues

Published/Revised: February 28, 1999

Firearms
Newsletter September 1999 - Issue II - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 299.28 KB]

What's In This Issue: National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act; NICS Enrollment by Licencees; ATF Form 4473 Completion and NICS Checks; Sales to Law Enforcement Officers; Required Identification Document; ATF Form 4473 Completion Errors and NICS; NICS and the 3-Day Wait; NICS and Potential "Straw Transactions"; NICS and the Collectors of Curio and Relic Firearms; Licensee Fines, Suspension, and/or Revocation for NICS Violations; Special Notices

Published/Revised: September 30, 1999

Firearms
Newsletter May 2001 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 15.73 MB]

What's In This Issue: Transfers to Aliens in a Nonimmigrant Status; New Address for Out of Business Records Center; Computerized Acquisition and Disposition Records; Auctioning Firearms; Corporate Mergers Significantly Impact Status of Federal Licenses; Transfers of National Firearms Act Firearms in Decedent's Estates; Importation of Certain Frames, Receivers and Barrels; Questions to the Editor; FBI/NICS News

Published/Revised: May 31, 2001

Firearms
Newsletter May 2012 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 234.35 KB]

What’s in This Issue: Customer Service Standards; SHOT Show 2012; Multiple Trade Name Policy; Hunting Licenses Issued by Retailers; Binary Exploding Targets; Completion of Section A of ATF Form 4473; Out-of-State Driver’s License Used as an Identification Document; REAL ID Act of 2005; Recording Firearms in the Acquisition and Disposition Record; Guide to Requesting Marking Variances; Firearms Commerce in the United States 2011; Looking for Past Newsletters?; FBI NICS Information

Published/Revised: May 31, 2012

Firearms
Newsletter March 2013, Volume 2 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 588.97 KB]

What’s In This Issue: Reminder: Keep Your Contact Information Up to Date; Reminder: eForm 6; Agency Information Collection Activities; Rental of Firearms On-Premises; Rental of Firearms Off-Premises; Clarification of ATF Ruling 2008–3: Making Corrections to the e4473; Recording Identification Documents on the ATF Form 4473—Military Identification and PCS Orders; Purchase of Firearms by Current or Former Law Enforcement Officers; Recording Pistol Grip Firearms in the Acquisition and Disposition Record; Manufacturing NFA Firearms for the United States Government; When Permission Is Required To Move NFA Firearms; Recordkeeping Requirements and Retention Requirements for Licensed Manufacturers; Clarification: Firearms Shipments via Common or Contract Carrier; Brokering of Firearms/Drop Shipments

Published/Revised: March 28, 2013

Firearms
Newsletter September 2013, Volume 2 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 622.58 KB]

What’s in This Issue: Private Party Transfers; Updated ATF Website; Top 8 Questions Asked by FFLs on the ATF Website; Use of Computerized Software; Guidance for Requesting Marking Variances; Personal Firearms Record; Updated Most Frequently Asked Questions; eForms News; FFLs May Ship Firearms to Locations Other than the Business Premises Address; National Firearms Act Firearms in Estates; Sales to Law Enforcement; Retention of Registered Machineguns by Licensees Who Discontinue Business

Published/Revised: September 30, 2013

Firearms
Newsletter April 2015 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 585.33 KB]

What’s in This Issue: SHOT Show 2015; New Appointments in Enforcement Programs and Services; ATF Outreach Activities; Organizational Change for Firearms Technology Branch; Automation of CBP Form I-94; Return of Firearms Received for Appraisal; Revised Federal Firearms License (FFL) Renewal Application (ATF Form 8); Reminders: Reporting Deceased Responsible Persons to the Federal Firearms Licensing Center and Submission of Original and Renewal Applications; Use of Internal Control Numbers on ATF Form 6 Part I; Reminder: Reporting Multiple Sales of Handguns or Certain Rifles; Who to Contact with your Firearms Related Questions

Published/Revised: April 29, 2015

Firearms
Newsletter July 2017 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 1.08 MB]

What's In This Issue: Announcement - ATF stands up the National Firearms Act (NFA) Division; Firearm Thefts & Burglaries; Burglary and Robbery Statistics; ATF Ruling 2016-1: Electronic A&D Records; ATF Ruling 2016-2; ATF Ruling 2016-3; ATF Ruling 2016-5; Revised ATF Form 4473 (Firearms Transaction Record); Rental of Firearms On-Premises; Rental of Firearms Off-Premises; FFLs are Responsible for Retrieving Status when Using E-Check; Tips from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Section; Gun Shows

Published/Revised: July 28, 2017

Firearms
Newsletter Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter Index - July 2020 [PDF - 177.32 KB]

Index for the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) newsletters. Last updated July 2020.

Published/Revised: July 30, 2020

Firearms
Newsletter September 2008 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 602.15 KB]

What's In This Issue: Carson W. Carroll Named Assistant Director (Enforcement Programs and Services); Changes in the Arson and Explosives Programs Division; New Headquarters Building; Two New Field Divisions; New “Orange Book”; Storage Rulings; Fireworks Recordkeeping and Marks of Identification; Information Resources; Variance Request Guidelines; Determination Request Guidelines; Exemption Request Guidelines; Who Should Complete a Theft or Loss Report?; 2007 Explosives Thefts

Published/Revised: September 30, 2008

Explosives
Newsletter September 2001 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 498.85 KB]

What's In This Issue: A Message from the Chief, Arson and Explosives Programs Division (AEPD); Changes in Arson and Explosives Programs Division; International Explosives Assistance; Bunker Explosion in Arkansas; Advanced Explosives Destruction Techniques; Shock Tube Storage Requirements; License and Permit Simplification; Bombing Case in Virginia Solved; Fugitive Corner; ATF National Laboratory Project Update; Second Quarter 2001 Explosives Thefts; Correction of National Repository Fax Number

Published/Revised: September 30, 2001

Explosives
Newsletter October 2021 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 264.13 KB]

What's In This Issue: New Assistant Director, EPS; New Deputy Assistant Director, EPS; FEID Personnel Changes; Updated Form for Explosives Theft or Loss; Articles Pyrotechnic Exemption; Overview of IMESAFR; Reporting Employee Possessors; Changes to the List of Explosive Materials; Report Suspicious Activity; Underground Storage Reminder; Authorized Persons List; Q&As; Updated Publications; 2020 ATF Webinar

Published/Revised: October 31, 2021

Explosives
Newsletter November 2002 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 1.29 MB]

What's In This Issue: A Message From the Chief, Arson & Explosives Programs Division; ATF Hosts Explosives Industry Executive Meeting; Variances; EPA and the Toxic Substances Control Act; New Industry Circulars; International Explosives Assistance & Coordination; Fugitive Corner

Published/Revised: November 30, 2002

Explosives
Newsletter November 2001 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 799.28 KB]

What's In This Issue: A Message From the Chief, Arson & Explosives Programs Division; Transfers of Explosives In-State; ATF Meets With ISEE, PGI; Fugitive Corner; Third Quarter 2001 Explosives Thefts

Published/Revised: November 30, 2001

Explosives
Newsletter May 2003 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 255.79 KB]

What's In This Issue: Safe Explosives Act of 2002 - Key Provisions Outlined; Application for Restoration of Explosives Privileges; Changes Within ATF Resulting From the Signing of the Homeland Security Bill; Frequently Asked Questions; The New Federal Explosives License and Permit Application - Explosive Applications and Renewals

Published/Revised: May 31, 2003

Explosives
Newsletter May 2002 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 1.3 MB]

What's In This Issue: A Message From the Chief, Arson & Explosives Programs Division; Changes in the A&E Division; Violent Offender Branch Gets New Chief; Bulk Salutes and Licensing; Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC) Restrictions; Phone Number for National Licensing Center Changed; ATF's Lab New First Response Field Lab Vehicles; ATF Meets With ISEE, APA; Explosives Forms; Explosives Questions; Fugitive Corner; First Quarter 2002 Explosive Thefts

Published/Revised: May 31, 2002

Explosives
Newsletter June 2016 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 538.19 KB]

What's In This Issue: New Division Chief; Bomb Threat and Suspicious Package Publication; Transfer of Unmarked Explosive Materials; Nitrocellulose; Explosives Storage in Trailers; Type 2 Magazine Floors and Roofs; Highways; Marijuana Use and Prohibited Persons; Background Investigation and Denial; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed IPECs; Lists of Authorized Persons; Remote Storage Locations and Responsible Persons; Seismic and Geophysical Operations … Continued; 2015 Annual List of Explosive Materials

Published/Revised: June 30, 2016

Explosives
Newsletter June 2016 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter - Addendum [PDF - 196.45 KB]

What's In This Issue: Nitrocellulose - Update

Published/Revised: August 31, 2016

Explosives
Newsletter June 2013 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 1.5 MB]

What's In This Issue: New Publication; Exploding Ammunition Requirements; Smoke Producing Devices; Reagents; Canadian Type 4 Magazines vs. U.S. Type 2 Magazines; Hardwood or Softwood?; Interior Walls for Type 1 Magazines; Gun Loading Facilities; Horizontally-Mounted Hoods; Indoor Storage Reminders; Recordkeeping Reminders; Permittee Disposal of Surplus Stock; Questions and Answers; Explosives Thefts From 2006-2012

Published/Revised: June 30, 2013

Explosives
Newsletter June 2012 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 1.4 MB]

What's In This Issue: ATF Celebrates 40 Years of Public Service; New Publications; ATF Ruling 2012-2, Uncovered Firework Bins; Storage of EPCDs Aboard Fishing Vessels; ATF Regulation of 1.4 Materials; Recording in the Daily Summary of Magazine Transactions; Aluminum Type 2 and Type 3 Magazines; Advertised as “ATF Approved”; ATF to Host Explosives Regulatory Conference; Questions and Answers; Explosives Thefts Reported During 2011

Published/Revised: June 30, 2012

Explosives
Newsletter June 2011 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 2.16 MB]

What's In This Issue: New Web Pages and Publication; Display Fireworks Materials Exemption for Federally Recognized Indian Tribes; Fireworks and Black Powder; ATF Ruling 2011-2 Storage in Type 5 Bins and Silos; Mortise Locks and Cylindrical Dead Bolt Locks; Recordkeeping Exception at 27 CFR 555.123(d); Pressure Gas Systems; Indoor Magazines Stored Inside Containers and Trailers; Educational Institution Exemptions and Students; Prohibited Person Reminder; A Reminder about Special Explosive Device Exemptions; Acting Director Expresses ATF Gratitude; Explosives Thefts from 2006-2010

Published/Revised: June 30, 2011

Explosives
Last Updated: January 15, 2026

ATF.gov

An official website of the U.S. Department of Justice

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov