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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
Newsletter 1990 - Volume 2 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 615.06 KB]

What's In This Issue: New Fireworks Regulations; Letters to the Editor; Law Enforcement Corner

Published/Revised: December 31, 1990

Explosives
Newsletter 1990 - Volume 1 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 584.73 KB]

What's In This Issue: Facsimile Transmitted Copies of Forms and Other Documents; FFL Toll-Free Information; Sales Agents; Falsified Federal Firearms Licenses; Out-of-State FFLs; Manufacturer's Annual Report - Form 4483-A; Letters to the Editor; Excise Tax; Thefts of Dealer's Records

Published/Revised: December 28, 1990

Firearms
Newsletter 1990 - Volume 2 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 557.15 KB]

What's In This Issue: MP-83 and MP-22 Pistols; Significant Court Cases; Firearms and Explosives Division Personnel Changes; Compliance Inspection Problems; Certified Copies of Licenses; Excise Tax- Update; Gun Show Guidelines; Permit to Carry Concealed Weapons; Letters to the Editor; Special Tax Refunds; What is ITAR?

Published/Revised: December 28, 1990

Firearms
Newsletter 1989 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 5.71 MB]

What's In This Issue: Open Letter; Movement of Explosive Materials Pertaining to Fireworks; Explosives Security; Binary Explosives Requirements; Black Powder Dealers' Records; Special Notice; ATF's Most Wanted

Published/Revised: December 31, 1989

Explosives
Newsletter 1989 - Volume 2 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 186.88 KB]

What's In This Issue: Out-Of-State And Mail Order Sales; “Straw Purchases" Of Firearms; Firearms Transaction Records on Title II Transfers; ATF Distribution Center; Armor Piercing Ammunition – Update; Change of Control; Form 4473 Omissions and Discrepancies; Sales to Underaged Persons

Published/Revised: December 28, 1989

Firearms
Newsletter July 1989 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 4.06 MB]

 ATF determines semiautomatic assault rifles cannot be imported into the United States.

Published/Revised: July 28, 1989

Firearms
Newsletter July 1986 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 6.54 MB]

What's In This Issue: An Open Letter to Licensees and Others Concerned; President Signs New Gun Law; News You Can Use; Tracing Makes a Difference

Published/Revised: July 30, 1986

Firearms
Regulatory 1985-10 - Surplus Military Frames or Receivers, Alone, Denied Importation [PDF - 31.73 KB]

Surplus military firearms frames or receivers alone not specifically classified as curios or relics by ATF will be denied importation.

Published/Revised: August 29, 1985

Firearms
Regulatory 1985-2 - Importation of NFA Firearms as Sales Samples [PDF - 28.49 KB]

A National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm may not be imported for use as a sample for sales to law enforcement agencies if the firearm is a curio or relic unless it is established that the firearm is particularly suitable for use as a law enforcement weapon.

Published/Revised: January 1, 1985

Firearms
Newsletter 1983 - Volume 2, Issue 2 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 255.94 KB]

What's In This Issue: Gun Shows Revisited; News You Can Use; Armed Forces Dual Residency Clarified; Licensee Q and A’s

Published/Revised: December 31, 1983

Firearms
Newsletter 1983 - Volume 2, Issue 1 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 231.02 KB]

What's In This Issue: A Message to the FFL from Stephen Higgins - Director of ATF; Firearms License Streamlined; Licensee Q's and A's; Firearms Seminars Look Like a Hit; News You Can Use; New Organization - Office of Regulatory Enforcement; ATF Spotlights; ATF Reorganization

Published/Revised: December 31, 1983

Firearms
Newsletter 1983 - Volume 1, Issue 2 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 181.68 KB]

What's In This Issue: The Director's Column; Curios, Relics Classification Expanded; Stolen Guns Threaten Everyone; Place of Business; For Your Customer; Tracing Works; Firearms Trace Results; News You Can Use; Toll-Free Service Available

Published/Revised: December 31, 1983

Firearms
Newsletter 1983 - Volume 1, Issue 1 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 326.03 KB]

What's In This Issue: A Message from the Director of ATF; Tracing Firearms for Law Enforcement; Frequently Asked Questions

Published/Revised: December 31, 1983

Firearms
Regulatory 1983-5 - STEN MK II as NFA Weapon [PDF - 23.56 KB]

The YAC STEN MK II carbine is a machinegun as defined in the National Firearms Act.

Published/Revised: January 1, 1983

Firearms
Regulatory 1982-8 - SM10, SM11A Pistols and SAC Carbines as NFA Weapons [PDF - 27.17 KB]

The SM10 and SM11A1 pistols and SAC carbines are machineguns as defined in the National Firearms Act.

Published/Revised: June 21, 1982

Firearms
Regulatory 1982-2 - KG-9 Pistol as NFA Weapon [PDF - 25.1 KB]

The KG-9 pistol is a machinegun as defined in the National Firearms Act.

Published/Revised: January 19, 1982

Firearms
Regulatory 1981-4 - Auto Sear [PDF - 12.82 KB]

The AR15 auto sear is a machinegun as defined by 26 U.S.C. 5845(b).

Published/Revised: November 1, 1981

Firearms
Regulatory 1981-3 - Importation of Firearms Acquired Outside the U.S. by U.S. Citizens [PDF - 29.08 KB]

Nonresident U.S. citizens returning to the United States and nonresident aliens lawfully immigrating to the United States may obtain a permit to import firearms acquired outside of the United States, provided such firearms may be lawfully imported.

Published/Revised: January 1, 1981

Firearms
Regulatory 1980-8 - Importation of Surplus Military Firearms for Law Enforcement [PDF - 24.75 KB]

Applications to import surplus military firearms or nonsporting firearms or ammunition for individual law enforcement officers for official use must be accompanied by the agency's purchase order.

Published/Revised: March 1, 1980

Firearms
Regulatory 1980-20 - Rifle Bore Tasers as Firearms [PDF - 23.39 KB]

A hand-held device with a hand grip bent at an angle to the bore and having a rifled bore which is designed to expel, by means of an explosive, two electrical contacts (barbs) connected by two wires to a high voltage source within the device is classified as a firearm. ATF Rul. 76-6 is amplified.

Published/Revised: February 1, 1980

Firearms
Regulatory 1980-21 - Identification of State of Residency for Out-of-State College Students [PDF - 22.54 KB]

An out-of-State college student may establish residence in a State by residing and maintaining a home in a college dormitory or in a location off-campus during the school term.

Published/Revised: January 1, 1980

Firearms
Newsletter February 1979 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 343.72 KB]

What's In This Issue: ATF Facts - Registered Firearms and Weapons

Published/Revised: February 27, 1979

Firearms
Regulatory 1977-24 - Storage Compartments on Vehicles [PDF - 39.21 KB]

Alternate magazine construction standards for storage of electric blasting caps with other explosive materials are prescribed.

Published/Revised: June 3, 1977

Explosives
Regulatory 1977-1 - Gunsmithing at Shooting Events [PDF - 50.03 KB]

The recordkeeping requirements for licensed gunsmiths are clarified. ATF Rul. 73-13 amplified.

Published/Revised: January 1, 1977

Firearms
Regulatory 1976-18 - Alternate Bullet-Resistant Construction Standards for Explosives Magazines [PDF - 20.54 KB]

ATF prescribes alternate bullet resistance construction standards for explosives storage facilities.

Published/Revised: June 23, 1976

Explosives
Last Updated: January 15, 2026

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