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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
Regulatory Delegation Order - Designation of Acting Supervisory Officials [PDF - 44.88 KB]

The purpose of this delegation order is to grant supervisors authority to designate acting supervisory officials of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Published/Revised:

Workforce and Mission
Regulatory Federal Firearms License Proceedings - Hearings (2008R-15P) Feb. 3, 2012 [PDF - 64.97 KB]

The Department of Justice is proposing to amend the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regarding administrative hearings held as part of firearms license proceedings. This proposed rule clarifies that such hearings are held in an informal setting and that persons requesting a hearing will be afforded the opportunity to submit facts, arguments, offers of settlement, or proposals of adjustment for review and consideration. The proposed regulations are intended to ensure that federal firearms licensees and persons applying for a federal firearms license are familiar with the hearing process relative to the denial, suspension, or revocation of a firearms license, or imposition of a civil fine.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Publication Safety and Security Information for Federal Firearms Licensees - ATF P 3317.2 [PDF - 1.77 MB]

This booklet provides safety and security information for federal firearms licensees (FFL) and their businesses. In this booklet you will find information pertaining to ATF's stolen firearms program, steps for reducing your vulnerability to theft or loss, properly identifying and recording firearms information, recording suspicious person descriptions and how to report a theft or loss of firearms inventory. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Publication Personal Firearms Record - ATF P 3312.8 [PDF - 360.91 KB]

Each year, thousands of firearms are reported lost or stolen.  The owners’ ability to adequately identify these firearms is central to law enforcement’s ability to investigate these crimes and losses.  Insurance claims and reacquisition of recovered firearms will also hinge on the ability to correctly identify these firearms.  Keep this list separate from your firearms to assist police in the event your firearms are ever lost or stolen.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Publication National Tracing Center (NTC) - Información para las Oficinas Policiales - ATF P 3312.7 SP [PDF - 1.12 MB]

¿Qué es la División del Centro Nacional de Rastreo (NTC)?  La División del Centro de Rastreo Nacional (NTC) del Agencia de Alcohol, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos es la única organización autorizada a rastrear armas de fuego de fabricación nacional y extranjera para las agencias policiales internacionales, federales, estatales y locales.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2010–13392 - Final Rule - Decision-Making Authority Regarding the Denial, Suspension, or Revocation of a Federal Firearms License, or Imposition of a Civil Fine - June 3, 2010 [PDF - 156.55 KB]

The Department of Justice has adopted as final, without change, an interim rule that amended the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (‘‘ATF’’) to delegate to the Director of ATF the authority to serve as the deciding official regarding the denial, suspension, or revocation of federal firearms licenses, or the imposition of a civil fine. Under the interim rule, the Director has the flexibility to delegate to another ATF official the authority to decide a revocation or denial matter, or may exercise that authority himself. Because the Director can redelegate authority to take action as the final agency decision-maker to Headquarters officials, field officials, or some combination thereof, such flexibility allows ATF to more efficiently conduct denial, suspension, and revocation hearings, and make the determination whether to impose a civil fine. This gives the agency the ability to ensure consistency in decision-making and to address any case backlogs that may occur.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory 2010–13392 - Final Rule - Decision-Making Authority Regarding the Denial, Suspension, or Revocation of a Federal Firearms License, or Imposition of a Civil Fine - June 3, 2010 [PDF - 67.18 KB]

The Department of Justice has adopted as final, without change, an interim rule that amended the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (‘‘ATF’’) to delegate to the Director of ATF the authority to serve as the deciding official regarding the denial, suspension, or revocation of federal firearms licenses, or the imposition of a civil fine.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) - Final Rule 2021R-05F - Definition of "Frame or Receiver" and Identification of Firearms [PDF - 1.04 MB]

This analysis provides an assessment of the impacts to industry, the public, and government from the changes that are detailed in the final rule titled Definition of “Frame or Receiver” and Identification of Firearms. This RIA does not attempt to precisely replicate the regulatory language of the final rule; the regulatory text of the published rule, not the text of this analysis, is legally binding. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory Application to Register as an Importer of U.S. Munitions Import List Articles - ATF F 4587/(5330.4) [PDF - 2.3 MB]

This form is used to register and pay to permanently import defense articles on the United States Munitions Import List.

Published/Revised:

Workforce and Mission
Report March 2022 - Firearms Compliance Inspection Results [XLSX - 12.91 KB]

Firearms Compliance Inspection Results for March 2022.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Publication Silencer Destruction Diagram [PDF - 407.49 KB]

To meet the requirement for removal from GCA and NFA provisions, ATF has previously explained that acceptable methods of destruction include completely melting, shredding, or crushing the firearm silencer. View more information on how to properly destroy a silencer.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Report February 2022 - Firearms Compliance Inspection Results [XLSX - 19.74 KB]

Firearms compliance inspection statistics for February 2022.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Publication ATF Organization Chart [PDF - ]

A visual representation outlining the roles, reporting relationships and hierarchy of the organization. 

Published/Revised:

Workforce and Mission
Report January 2022 - Firearms Compliance Inspection Results [XLSX - 12.74 KB]

January 2022 compliance inspection results.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Publication Recordkeeping Requirements for Explosives Permittees - ATF P 5400.20 [PDF - 517.74 KB]

This publication defines what each Federal explosives permittee and limited permitee must do for compliance, as per the Federal explosives regulations, at 27 CFR, Part 555.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Report 2021 - Federal Firearms Licensee Theft/Loss Report [HTML]

Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) must report to ATF each missing, lost, or stolen firearm from the FFL's inventory or collection within 48 hours of discovery of the loss or theft by completing and forwarding a Federal Firearms Licensee Theft/Loss Report (ATF Form 3310.11). In addition, the FFL must also report the firearm theft or loss to the appropriate local law enforcement agency. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Regulatory Federal Firearms Licensee Theft/Loss Report - ATF Form 3310.11 [PDF - 259.73 KB]

This form is used by Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to report the theft or loss of firearms from their inventory or collection, to include firearms lost in transit (to be reported by the shipping FFL).

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Report December 2021 - Firearms Compliance Inspection Results [XLSX - 12.8 KB]

Firearms Compliance Inspection Statistics December 2021

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Report October 2021 - Firearms Compliance Inspection Results [XLSX - 12.71 KB]

October 2021 - Firearms Compliance Inspection Results

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Report November 2021 - Firearms Compliance Inspection Results [XLSX - 12.77 KB]

November 2021 - Firearms Compliance Inspection Results

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Report Firearms Trace Data: Alabama - 2020 [HTML]

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

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Report Firearms Trace Data: Alaska - 2020 [HTML]

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

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Report Firearms Trace Data: Arizona - 2020 [HTML]

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

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Report Firearms Trace Data: Arkansas - 2020 [HTML]

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

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Report Firearms Trace Data: California - 2020 [HTML]

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

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Last Updated: January 15, 2026

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