Publications

The Department of Justice proposes amending Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regulations to clarify definitions of two categories of persons who are prohibited from receiving, possessing, shipping, or transporting firearms under the Gun Control Act of 1968. The proposed rule would clarify that the statutory term "adjudicated as a mental defective" includes persons who are found incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, lack of mental responsibility, or insanity, and that the term includes persons found guilty but mentally ill.

Published/Revised: January 7, 2014

What’s in This Issue: Customer Service Standards; Active Federal Firearms License (FFL) Records; Best Practices; ATF Outreach Activities; New Moves in EPS; FBI/NICS News

Published/Revised: September 30, 2013

What’s in This Issue: Private Party Transfers; Updated ATF Website; Top 8 Questions Asked by FFLs on the ATF Website; Use of Computerized Software; Guidance for Requesting Marking Variances; Personal Firearms Record; Updated Most Frequently Asked Questions; eForms News; FFLs May Ship Firearms to Locations Other than the Business Premises Address; National Firearms Act Firearms in Estates; Sales to Law Enforcement; Retention of Registered Machineguns by Licensees Who Discontinue Business

Published/Revised: September 30, 2013

This ATF procedure gives guidance to licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers (licensees) on how to record the sale of a firearm to an unlicensed person who:

• Has a valid alternate permit or otherwise is exempt from National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) requirements;
• Resides in the same State as the licensee; and
• Does not appear in person at the licensee's business premises

Published/Revised: August 15, 2013

By completing this record and maintaining it in a safe location, separate from your firearms, you will be taking an important first step in the effort to prevent thefts and to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals. Last revised August 2013.

Published/Revised: August 1, 2013

Approved alternate method or procedure for individuals, federal firearms licensees, and registered importers of articles enumerated on the U.S. Munitions Import List (USMIL) to file ATF Form 6 - Part I and Form 6A electronically using ATF eForms, provided all of the conditions set forth in this ruling are met.  Supersedes ATF Rulings 2003-6 and 2010-9.

Published/Revised: July 10, 2013

Approved alternate method or procedure for FFLs, legal entities, and government agencies to file ATF Forms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, and 10 using ATF eForms, provided all of the conditions set forth in this ruling are met.   

Published/Revised: July 10, 2013

The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance and information related to the passage of the Kansas Second Amendment Protection Act, Kansas, effective April 25, 2013.

Published/Revised: July 8, 2013

What's In This Issue: New Publication; Exploding Ammunition Requirements; Smoke Producing Devices; Reagents; Canadian Type 4 Magazines vs. U.S. Type 2 Magazines; Hardwood or Softwood?; Interior Walls for Type 1 Magazines; Gun Loading Facilities; Horizontally-Mounted Hoods; Indoor Storage Reminders; Recordkeeping Reminders; Permittee Disposal of Surplus Stock; Questions and Answers; Explosives Thefts From 2006-2012

Published/Revised: June 30, 2013

This publication, last updated June 2013, is an overview intended as an aid to compliance with regulatory requirements, not a replacement for the Federal explosives regulations at 27 CFR, Part 555.

Published/Revised: June 1, 2013

The purpose of this open letter is to advise federal firearms licensees that arranging for the exportation of firearms and ammunition through in-person disposition to foreign purchasers at airline ticket counters of local international airports violates the Gun Control Act of 1968.

Published/Revised: May 16, 2013

DOJ is amending ATF regulations to remove the cross reference to the regulatory U.S. Munitions List (USML) of the Int'l Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) that appears at 27 CFR 447.21; to clarify that the Attorney General (AG) exercises delegated authority pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and Executive Order 13637 to designate defense articles and defense services as part of the  statutory USML for purposes of permanent import controls, regardless of whether the Secretary of State controls such defense articles or defense services for purposes of export and temporary import; and to clarify that defense articles and defense services controlled pursuant to the AG's delegated AECA authority are part of the statutory USML (along with those that are controlled for export and temporary import by the Secretary of State), but that the list of defense articles and defense services controlled by the AG is labeled the USMIL to distinguish it from the list of defense articles and defense services in the ITAR that are controlled by the Secretary of State.

Published/Revised: April 22, 2013

The purpose of this letter is to provide procedures for completing Firearms Transaction Records, ATF Form 4473, while complying with the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) transaction procedures.

Published/Revised: April 19, 2013

The purpose of this open letter is to advise all Louisiana federal firearms licensees that Louisiana's concealed handgun permit has been determined to qualify as an alternative to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. 

Published/Revised: April 3, 2013

What’s in This Issue: SHOT Show 2013; ATF Outreach Activities; Best Practices; FBI/NICS News

Published/Revised: March 28, 2013

What’s In This Issue: Reminder: Keep Your Contact Information Up to Date; Reminder: eForm 6; Agency Information Collection Activities; Rental of Firearms On-Premises; Rental of Firearms Off-Premises; Clarification of ATF Ruling 2008–3: Making Corrections to the e4473; Recording Identification Documents on the ATF Form 4473—Military Identification and PCS Orders; Purchase of Firearms by Current or Former Law Enforcement Officers; Recording Pistol Grip Firearms in the Acquisition and Disposition Record; Manufacturing NFA Firearms for the United States Government; When Permission Is Required To Move NFA Firearms; Recordkeeping Requirements and Retention Requirements for Licensed Manufacturers; Clarification: Firearms Shipments via Common or Contract Carrier; Brokering of Firearms/Drop Shipments

Published/Revised: March 28, 2013

The purpose of this open letter is to remind all federal firearms licensees (FFL) of their ready ability to enhance public safety and assist law enforcement by encouraging and facilitating transfers of firearms between private individuals through their businesses.

Published/Revised: March 25, 2013

The purpose of this open letter is to remind all federal firearms licensees (FFL) of their ready ability to enhance public safety and assist law enforcement by encouraging and facilitating transfers of firearms between private individuals through their businesses.

Published/Revised: March 15, 2013

The purpose of this open letter is to remind all federal firearms licenses (FFL) of their ready ability to enhance public safety and assist law enforcement by encouraging and facilitating transfers of firearms between private individuals thorough their businesses.

Published/Revised: March 13, 2013

Tracing firearms in connection with criminal investigations and improving availability of relevant Executive Brand records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

Published/Revised: January 16, 2013

This publication provides best practices in regards to transfers of firearms by private sellers.

Published/Revised: January 1, 2013

What's In This Issue: New Explosives Industry Programs Branch Chief; ATF Explosives Industry Meeting in Washington; ATF Ruling 2012-5 Type 4 Wood Floors; Signage and Placarding at Regulated Mining Sites; Explosives Violations; Applying Tables of Distances at 555.218 and 555.220; Type 19 Licensed Activities; Recording Packaged Displays in the DSMT; Questions and Answers; EIPB at the AFSL Display Fireworks Seminar in China

Published/Revised: December 31, 2012

This open letter contains information about the availability of ATF F 4587 (ATF F 5330.4), Application to Register as an Importer of U.S. Munitions Import List Articles, on Pay.gov.

Published/Revised: December 12, 2012

What’s in This Issue:  Customer Service Standards; Reminder: Top 10 Frequently Asked Firearms Questions and Answers; Receive Firearms Industry News; Electronic Devices Used to Verify Change of Address; Government Issued Documents Bearing an Incorrect Zip Code; PCS Orders and Military Dependents Purchasing Firearms; Licensed Manufacturer’s Registration; Requirement with the Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Control (DDTC); Firearms Lost or Stolen from Interstate Shipments; Guidance to FFLs Affected by Flooding and Other Natural Disasters; Ethnicity and Race on the ATF Form 4473; Firearms Shipments via Common or Contract Carrier; Out-of-Business Procedures; Out-of-Business with Succession; Residence as a Licensed Business Premises; New Move in EPS; Who to Contact with your Firearms Related Questions; FBI NICS news

Published/Revised: November 30, 2012

This open letter was sent from ATF's Deputy Director to all federal firearms licensees and all federal explosives licensees/permittees discussing how ATF continues to work towards maintaining and building positive working relationships industry members, trade associations, law enforcement, and the general public.

Published/Revised: November 19, 2012