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 | 2000 - December - Vermont - Notice of Amendment for Vermont Firearms Background Checks
This open letter has been rescinded.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
This open letter has been rescinded.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
This open letter has been rescinded.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
This open letter has been rescinded.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
This open letter has been rescinded.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
This open letter has been rescinded.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 |
| Regulatory | 1998 - October - South Carolina - All FFLs - Change to South Carolina Background Check Procedures
This open letter has been rescinded. Licensees must be enrolled with the FBI before they can initiate NICS checks through the NICS Operations Center. Licensees who are not currently enrolled are advised to do so upon receipt of this letter. Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
| Regulatory | 1998 - October - Idaho - All FFLs - Establishment of National Instant Criminal Background Check System
This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this open letter is to advise you of an important change to the procedure you may follow to comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. This open letter supersedes the document by the same title, posted on April 8, 2010. Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
| Regulatory | 1998 - November - New Mexico - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law
This open letter has been rescinded. This correction notice is to advise all New Mexico Federal firearms licensees that the New Mexico Department of Public Safety will no longer participate as the NICS point of contact. Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
| Regulatory | 1998 - October - North Carolina - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law
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 - Puerto Rico - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law
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 - Hawaii - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 | 2025 - July - Wisconsin - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law - FFL on Status of Concealed Carry License as a NICS Alternate Permit
ATF is committed to helping federal firearms licensees (FFLs) understand their legal obligations under federal law. This open letter advises Wisconsin FFLs that, effective immediately, the Wisconsin concealed carry license does not qualify as an alternative permit/license for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 922(t)(3), which allows FFLs to accept certain state-issued licenses in lieu of running a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) when transferring a firearm to a nonlicensee. Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
| Publication | Firearms Curios or Relics List - January 1972-April 2025
A regulation implementing federal firearms laws, 27 CFR § 478.11, defines curio or relic (C&R) firearms as those which are of special interest to collectors by reason of some quality other than is associated with firearms intended for sporting use or as offensive or defensive weapons. This document includes a complete list of firearms curios or relics classifications from the previous editions of the Firearms Curios or Relics (C&R) List, ATF P 5300.11, combined with those made by FATD through April 2025. Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
| Regulatory | 2021 - June - Louisiana - All FFLs - Lifetime Permit
This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this open letter is to advise you that the Louisiana Lifetime Concealed Handgun Permit meets the requirements as an alternative to the NICS check only during the five-year period beginning on the date of issuance of the Lifetime Permit. Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
| Regulatory | 1998 - October - South Dakota - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law
This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this open letter is to advise you of an important change to the procedure you may follow to comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act), 18 U.S.C. § 922(t), when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
