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This open letter has been rescinded.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: July 29, 2025 |
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This open letter has been rescinded.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: July 29, 2025 |
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This open letter has been rescinded.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: July 29, 2025 |
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This open letter has been rescinded.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: July 29, 2025 |
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This open letter has been rescinded.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: July 29, 2025 |
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This open letter has been rescinded.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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
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: July 29, 2025 |
Firearms |
| Regulatory | 2011 - June - Iowa - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law
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: July 29, 2025 |
Firearms |
| Regulatory | 2008 - May - Illinois - Illinois Firearms Owner Identification Cards No Longer Qualify as Alternative to NICS Check
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: July 29, 2025 |
Firearms |
| Regulatory | 2006 - July - Georgia - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law
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: July 29, 2025 |
Firearms |
| Regulatory | 2015 - May - Kentucky - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law
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: July 29, 2025 |
Firearms |
