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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 State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 South Dakota [PDF - 113.24 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 South Dakota 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Tennessee [PDF - 108.59 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Tennessee 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Texas [PDF - 172.43 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Texas 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 U.S. Virgin Island [PDF - 96.71 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 U.S. Virgin Island 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Utah [PDF - 93.23 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Utah 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Vermont [PDF - 99.88 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Vermont 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Virginia [PDF - 187.9 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Virginia 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Washington [PDF - 201.46 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Washington 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 West Virginia [PDF - 222.92 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 West Virginia 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Wisconsin [PDF - 125.02 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Wisconsin 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Wyoming [PDF - 92.37 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Wyoming 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory 2000 - February - Repair of NFA Firearms [PDF - 116.3 KB]

The National Firearms Act (NFA) Branch has received numerous questions concerning the repair of NFA firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) does not consider the temporary conveyance of an NFA firearm to a gunsmith for repair to be a “transfer” under the terms of the NFA. Thus, an ATF Form 5 application is not required.

Published/Revised: September 16, 2015

Firearms
Regulatory 2013 - June - National Explosives Task Force (NETF) Industry Advisory [PDF - 217.45 KB]

Fireworks are a common component used in Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The US Government is asking consumer fireworks retailers to be aware of this phenomenon and familiarize themselves with some possible indicators of suspicious activity.

Published/Revised: May 11, 2015

Explosives
Regulatory 2021 - April - 2021R-05 - Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Regulatory Impact Analysis - Definition of Frame or Receiver and Identification of Firearms [PDF - 426.58 KB]

This preliminary Regulatory Analysis (RA) provides supporting documentation for the regulatory evaluation in the preamble of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for the Definition of Frame or Receiver and Identification of Firearms [2021R-05]. 

Published/Revised: May 7, 2021

Firearms
Regulatory ATF Ruling 2018-1- Revoking Certain Guidance Documents [PDF - 89.27 KB]

ATF is revoking several guidance documents; specifically 7 rulings, 1 procedure, and 59 open letters.  The following documents listed, in the order in which they were issued:  Revenue Ruling 69-114; ATF Ruling 75-30; ATF Ruling 7-13; ATF Ruling 77-25; ATF Ruling 77-26; ATF Ruling 80-22; ATF Ruling 80-23; ATF Procedure 80-7; 53 Open letters dated February 1994; Open Letter to all federally licensed importers and manufacturers dated August 22, 2001; Open Letter to All Federal firearms and explosives licensees dated November 20, 2001; Open Letter to all Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees dated February 12, 2003; Open Letter to all FFLs dated August 31, 2006; Open Letter to all FFLs dated November 4, 2008; and Open Letter to Washington FFL's dated August 12, 2011.

Published/Revised: April 30, 2018

Workforce and Mission
Regulatory Rev. Rul. 72-178 - Obsolete ATF Rulings [PDF - 217.57 KB]

Periodic review of outstanding revenue rulings reflect that the following list of rulings are obsolete because of expiration or changes to current laws and regulations.

Published/Revised: September 3, 2019

Workforce and Mission
Regulatory Application for National Firearms Examiner Academy - ATF Form 6330.1 [PDF - 231.51 KB]

This form is for applying to attend the ATF National Firearms Examiner Academy to acquire firearms and toolmark examiner training.

Published/Revised: August 31, 2017

Workforce and Mission
Regulatory Prescribed Requisites of Computerized A&D Software [PDF - 19.26 KB]

Before a federal firearms licensee can use a specific computer program for recordkeeping in lieu of the required bound book format, it is necessary to get prior approval from ATF. This document provides information about the required criteria for using Acquisitions & Dispositions (A&D) software. 

Published/Revised: June 17, 2015

Firearms
Regulatory Youth Handgun Safety Act Notice - ATF I 5300.2 [PDF - 485.46 KB]

Federal law prohibits, except in certain limited circumstances, anyone under 18 years of age from knowingly possessing a handgun, or any person from selling, delivering, or otherwise transferring a handgun to a person under 18. A knowing violation of the prohibition against selling, delivering, or otherwise transferring a handgun to a person under the age of 18 is, under certain circumstances, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Published/Revised: July 1, 2017

Firearms
Regulatory ATF Procedure 2013-2 - Recordkeeping Procedure for Non-over-the-counter Firearm Sales by Licensees to Unlicensed In-state Residents That are NICS Exempt - Aug. 15, 2013 [PDF - 54.24 KB]

This ATF procedure gives guidance to licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers (licensees) on how to record the sale of a firearm to an unlicensed person who:

  • Has a valid alternate permit or otherwise is exempt from National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) requirements;
  • Resides in the same State as the licensee; and
  • Does not appear in person at the licensee's business premises
 

Published/Revised: August 15, 2013

Firearms
Regulatory Asset Forfeiture/Unclaimed Property Seized Asset Claim Form [PDF - 144.55 KB]

Use this form to submit a claim for a seized asset. All claim forms should be mailed to the Asset Forfeiture and Seized Property Division.

Published/Revised: May 22, 2015

Firearms
Regulatory Department of Justice, Office of Tribal Justice Patriot Act Consultation Letter [PDF - 233.2 KB]

The Department of Justice, Office of Tribal Justice, invited Federally recognized tribes to consult with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on the implications of ATF's pending final rule, implementation of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 Regarding Trafficking in Contraband Cigarettes or Smokeless Tobacco. 

Published/Revised: July 7, 2016

Alcohol & Tobacco
Regulatory Response to Tribal Consultations on the Implementation of Certain Provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act Relating to Trafficking in Contraband Cigarettes or Smokeless Tobacco [PDF - 39.82 KB]

The Department of Justice's response to comments received from the federally recognized tribes after consultation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on the implications of ATF's pending final rule, implementation of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 Regarding Trafficking in Contraband Cigarettes or Smokeless Tobacco.

Published/Revised: July 7, 2016

Alcohol & Tobacco
Regulatory Application for Alternate Means of Identification of Firearm(s) (Marking Variance) - ATF E-Form 3311.4 [PDF - 781.27 KB]

Application for Alternate Means of Identification of Firearm(s) (Marking Variance) - ATF E-Form 3311.4

Published/Revised: September 21, 2017

Firearms
Regulatory Engaging as a Business - Texas et al. v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives et al., 2:24-cv-00089-Z (N.D. Tex.) [PDF - 275.18 KB]

Before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Motion for a Preliminary Injunction (“Motion”) (ECF No. 16), filed May 9, 2024. Defendants filed their response (“Response”) (ECF No. 31) on May 14, 2024. Having reviewed the briefing and relevant law, the Court GRANTS the Motion. Defendants are hereby ENJOINED from enforcing the regulations — “Definition of ‘Engaged in the Business’ as a Dealer in Firearms” (hereinafter “Final Rule”) — published at 89 Fed. Reg. 28968 (April 19, 2024) (to be codified at 27 C.F.R. pt. 478) against Plaintiffs Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Utah, Jeffrey Tormey (“Tormey”), the Gun Owners of America, Inc. (“GOA”), the Gun Owners Foundation (“GOF”), the Tennessee Firearms Association (“TFA”), and the Virginia Citizens Defense League (“VCDL”) pending the resolution of this lawsuit.

Published/Revised: June 12, 2024

Firearms
Last Updated: January 15, 2026

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