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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 2011 - August - Nevada - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.93 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in Nevada of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2011 - June - Iowa - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.93 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance on the procedure you may follow to comply with the Brady Act, when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2008 - May - Illinois - Illinois Firearms Owner Identification Cards No Longer Qualify as Alternative to NICS Check [PDF - 1.93 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this open letter is to advise you that beginning July 1, 2008, Illinois Firearms Owner Identification (FOID) cards no longer qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2006 - July - Georgia - 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This open letter has been rescinded.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 federal firearms licensees in Georgia of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2015 - May - Kentucky - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.31 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded.  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. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2011 - April - Nebraska - FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.93 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded.  The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in Nebraska of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - Northern Mariana Islands - 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 an important change to the procedure you must follow beginning Oct. 19, 2005, in order to comply with the Brady Law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - California - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.85 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in California of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2005 - October - Alaska - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.86 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in Alaska of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - American Samoa - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.5 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 - Arizona - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.43 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in Arizona of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - Arkansas - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.68 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded.  The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in Arkansas of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

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

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in Delaware of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady Law.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - District of Columbia - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.7 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in the District of Columbia of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady Law.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - Florida - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.77 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in Florida of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady Law.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - October - Montana - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.57 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 - New York - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.92 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 1999 - July - Colorado - Correction Notice - State of Colorado Point of Contact for Background Checks [PDF - 1.9 MB]

This open letter has been rescinded. The Colorado Department of Public Safety recently notified ATF that the State of Colorado will again act as the point of contact for NICS checks for all firearms transactions. Therefore, beginning Aug. 1, 1999, in order to request a NICS check for any firearm transaction, you must contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2000 - April - North Dakota - Correction Notice - Qualifying Permit Alternatives to NICS Check [PDF - 1.91 MB]

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:

Firearms
Regulatory 2000 - December - Vermont - Notice of Amendment for Vermont Firearms Background Checks [PDF - 3.46 MB]

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:

Firearms
Regulatory 2019 - July - Alabama - Public Safety Advisory - Alabama FFLs Transferring Firearms [PDF - 2.12 MB]

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:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - December - New Jersey - All FFLs - Change to New Jersey Background Check Procedure [PDF - 2.45 MB]

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:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - November - New Hampshire - All FFLs - Change to New Hampshire Background Check Procedures [PDF - 3.27 MB]

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:

Firearms
Regulatory 1998 - November - Oregon - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 4.56 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 - Alabama - 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 ffederal firearms licensees in Alabama of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Last Updated: January 15, 2026

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