Publications

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement in the Caribbean with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from January 1 - December 31, 2020, on firearms recovered and traced, firearm types, calibers, source states, time-to-crime rates, possessor age, top recovery locations and more.

Published/Revised: November 22, 2021

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement in Mexico with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from January 1 - December 31, 2020, on firearms recovered and traced, firearm types, calibers, source states, time-to-crime rates, possessor age, top recovery locations and more.

Published/Revised: November 22, 2021

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement in Central America with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from January 1 - December 31, 2020, on firearms recovered and traced, firearm types, calibers, source states, time-to-crime rates, possessor age, top recovery locations and more.

Published/Revised: November 22, 2021

The purpose of this open letter is to provide all federal explosives licensees and permittees guidance on the safe storage of explosive materials. Electronic nicotine delivery systems, or other similar devices, are electronic devices that, through an aerosolized solution, deliver nicotine, flavor, and/or other substances (including non-tobacco products) to the user inhaling from the device. ATF has determined that electronic nicotine delivery systems are spark producing devices. Therefore, they cannot be brought into or within 50 feet of any outdoor explosives storage magazine or within any room containing an indoor magazine.

Published/Revised: October 21, 2021

What's in this Issue?: New Assistant Director and Deputy Assistant Director, Enforcement Programs and Services; FEID Personnel Changes, Updated Form for Explosives Theft or Loss; Articles Pyrotechnic Exemption; Overview of IMESAFR; Reporting Employee Possessors; Changes to the List of Explosive Materials; Report Suspicious Activity; Underground Storage Reminder; Authorized Persons List; Question and Answers; Updated Publications; 2020 ATF Webinar

Published/Revised: October 5, 2021

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from January 1 - December 31, 2020.

Published/Revised: August 27, 2021

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from January 1 - December 31, 2020.

Published/Revised: August 27, 2021

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from January 1 - December 31, 2020.

Published/Revised: August 27, 2021

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from January 1 - December 31, 2020.

Published/Revised: August 27, 2021

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from January 1 - December 31, 2020.

Published/Revised: August 27, 2021

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from January 1 - December 31, 2020.

Published/Revised: August 27, 2021

The passage of Texas House Bill 957 (HB957), with an effective date of September 1, 2021, has generated questions from industry members as to how this state law may affect them while engaged in a firearms business activity. HB957 claims to exempt silencers (also known as suppressors) that are manufactured in Texas, and which remain in Texas, from Federal firearms laws and regulations, including the federal registration requirements. However, because HB957 directly conflicts with federal firearms laws and regulations, federal law supersedes HB957. In summary, all provisions of the Gun Control Act (GCA) and the National Firearms Act (NFA), including their corresponding regulations, continue to apply to FFLs and other persons in Texas.

Published/Revised: July 26, 2021

Colorado House Bill 1298 (HB1298) establishes a state requirement for an FFL in Colorado to obtain approval, in the form of a “proceed” response, from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) prior to any firearm transfers. HB1298 prohibits the CBI from approving a firearm transfer until the CBI determines that its background investigation is complete and that the transfer would not violate federal prohibitions on firearms possession or result in a violation of state law. 

Published/Revised: July 26, 2021

Missouri House Bill Number 85, Second Amendment Preservation Act (“the Act” or “SAPA”), signed into law by Governor Parson on June 12, 2021, has generated questions from industry members and firearm owners as to how this Missouri state law may affect them while engaged in a firearms business activity or seeking to acquire a firearm. Section 1.420 of the Act states that “federal acts, laws, executive orders, administrative orders, rules, and regulations” falling into five categories of regulations relating to firearms “shall be considered infringements on the people’s right to keep and bear arms, as guaranteed by Amendment II of the Constitution of the United States and Article I, Section 23 of the Constitution of Missouri.” 

Published/Revised: July 26, 2021

The NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (NIAA) requires states, as a condition of grant eligibility, to establish procedures to allow persons with disabilities relating to mental health (i.e., prohibiting mental health adjudications or involuntary commitments to a mental institution) to obtain relief from such disabilities for purposes of firearms eligibility. The 33 states in this list have qualified relief of disability programs, under 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(d)(4), (g)(4), that ATF has approved.

Published/Revised: July 7, 2021

This procedure supersedes ATF Procedure 2017-1. The purpose of this ATF procedure is to set forth the recordkeeping and National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) procedures for Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) who facilitate the transfer of firearms between private unlicensed individuals. This procedure does not apply to pawn transactions, consignment sales, or repairs.

Published/Revised: June 14, 2021

This procedure supersedes 2013-2. This ATF procedure gives guidance to licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers (licensees) on how to complete the Firearms Transaction Record, ATF Form 4473 (Form 4473), as revised effective May 2020, and record the sale of a firearm, when selling to an unlicensed person who (a) Has a valid alternate permit or otherwise is exempt from National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) requirements; (b) Resides in the same State as the licensee; and (c) Does not appear in person at the licensee's business premises.

Published/Revised: June 14, 2021

This form should be used by Federal Firearms Licensees who require additional space while filling out ATF Form 3310.11, Section C - Description of Firearms.

Published/Revised: June 14, 2021

The Annual Arson Incident Report (AIR) reviews arson-related incidents from data reported to the United States Bomb Data Center (USBDC) through the Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS).

Published/Revised: June 14, 2021

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), has regulatory and civil enforcement authority over the transportation of explosive materials in commerce.

Published/Revised: June 14, 2021

This publication provides the location for the Federal explosive regulations that require outdoor explosives storage magazines to be located.

Published/Revised: June 14, 2021

What's in this issue: What is a Straw Purchase; Silencer Markings and Registration Requirements; Changes to ATF Form 4473; State of Residence and Identification; NICS Alternative Permits and Age Restrictions;  Medical Marijuana and CBD Products; Private Party Sales; Internet Sales; Firearm Raffles; Firearm Registry; Variance Requests and the Approval Process; Special Occupational Tax Requirement – Business Locations; Reminders – Renewals / RPs / FFLC Address / AFMER ; and NFA Forms Processing Times

Published/Revised: June 11, 2021

The purpose of this letter is to inform you that, on Sept. 20, 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger approved a change in California law that establishes an Entertainment Firearms Permit, and to further advise you of the affect this new permit may have on firearms transactions conducted under your federal firearms license.

Published/Revised: June 4, 2021

This form must be completed by non-ATF personnel and their ATF sponsors when requesting escorted access to ATF facilities, non-sensitive information, and/or construction sites.

Published/Revised: June 1, 2021

Information for FFLs on how to establish a disaster preparedness plan and key elements to include, as well as links to other disaster preparation resources.

Published/Revised: June 1, 2021