Firearms Open Letters

Titlesort ascending Description
South Carolina-Sept1999-Open Letter-Notice of Amendment-South Carolina Ceases Operations as NICS Point of Contact (97.26 KB)
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has now notified ATF and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that they will cease operations as the NICS point of contact on September 30, 1999.  Therefore, beginning October 1, 1999, in order to initiate a NICS check for any firearm, South Carolina licensees must contact the FBI’s NICS Operations Center
South Carolina-Nov1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (44.91 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in South Carolina of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.
South Carolina-Dec1998-Open Letter-Correction Notice-Change to South Carolina Background Check Procedures (1.95 MB)

This open letter has been rescinded.  Licensees must be enrolled with the FBI before they can initiate NICS checks through the FBI’s NICS Operations Center. Licensees who are not currently enrolled are advised to do so upon receipt of this letter.
South Carolina-Aug2008-Open Letter-Amendment to South Carolina Law Prohibiting Handgun Sales to Persons Under Eighteen Years of Age (103.51 KB)
The purpose of this letter is to advise you that the recent amendment to Section 16-23-30, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the unlawful sale of handguns to certain person, so as to prohibit the sale of a handgun to persons under eighteen years of age rather than under twenty-one years of age has no effect on Federal firearms laws and regulations.
Rhode Island-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (2.44 MB)

This open letter has been rescinded.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, 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 
Puerto Rico-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (1.88 MB)

This open letter has been rescinded.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. 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 
Public Advisory to All Michigan FFLs 03-03-20 (566.92 KB)

The purpose of this public safety advisory is to advise all Michigan federal firearms licensees (FFLs) of an important change to the procedure they must follow to comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady law), 18 U.S.C. § 922(t), when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person.
Pennsylvania-Dec2005-Open Letter-Private Transfers of Firearms and Using NICS or the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) (36.62 KB)
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has received questions from firearms dealers in Pennsylvania concerning the use of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)/Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) to do background checks of people who are acquiring firearms from other nonlicensees in what are commonly called “private transfers.”
Oregon-Nov1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (4.56 MB)

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, 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 
Oregon-Dec2000-Open Letter-Notice of Amendment for All Oregon Firearms Background Checks (100.58 KB)

This letter has been rescinded. The provision of Oregon State law regarding all firearms background checks was recently amended. Effective December 8, 2000, the Oregon State Police will act as the point of contact for all firearms background checks (handguns and long guns).
Open Letter Federal Firearms Licensees Ready Ability (237.83 KB)

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.
Oklahoma-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (2.62 MB)

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, 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 
Oklahoma-Jun2023-OpenLetter-SDALicense (1.98 MB)

This open letter has been rescinded.  The purpose of this open letter is to advise you that the Oklahoma Self Defense Act Handgun License (SDA Handgun License) issued on or after November 1, 2021, meets the requirements as an alternative to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check — but only in Oklahoma during the five-year period beginning on the date of issuance of the SDA Handgun License.
Ohio-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (2.27 MB)

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, 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 
Ohio-May2016-Open Letter-Ohio's Concealed Handgun License Qualifies as Alternative to Background Check Requirement (62.79 KB)
The purpose of this open letter is to advise all Ohio FFLs that Ohio's concealed handgun license qualifies as an alternative to the background check requirement.
Northern Mariana Islands-Oct2005-Open Letter-Northern Mariana Island Weapons Identification (38.5 KB)
This open letter informs Northern Mariana Island Federal firearms licensees that beginning October 19, 2005, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island Weapons Identification Card Permits no longer qualifies as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check.
Northern Mariana Islands-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (1.86 MB)

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of an important change to the procedure you must follow beginning October 19, 2005, in order to comply with the Brady Law, 18 U.S.C. §922(t). 
North Dakota-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (44.75 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in North Dakota of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.
North Dakota-Apr2000-Open Letter-Correction Notice-Qualifying Permit Alternatives to NICS Check (1.91 MB)

This open letter has been rescinded. The provisions of North Dakota law regarding the issuance of concealed weapons permits were recently amended.  Based on these changes, concealed weapons permits issued on or after December 1, 1999, will now qualify as alternatives to a NICS check at the time of transfer.
North Carolina-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law.pdf (2.51 MB)

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, 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 
New York-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (1.92 MB)

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, 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). 
New York-May2006-Open Letter-New York's License to Carry and Possess Handguns No Longer Qualifies as Alternative to NICS Check (90.79 KB)
The purpose of this letter is to advise New York Federal firearms licensees that the New York license to carry and possess handguns  no longer qualifies as an alternative to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. 
New Mexico-Sept2024-open letter-changes to New Mexico law-waiting period.pdf (188.78 KB)

The New Mexico State Legislature enacted a new statute, N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-7-7.3, which became effective on May 15, 2024. The new statute imposes a waiting period before a firearm may be sold and transferred and makes it unlawful to sell and transfer a firearm before the required waiting period ends
New Mexico-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (83.69 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in New Mexico of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.
New Mexico-Nov1998-Open Letter-Correction Notice-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (3.11 MB)

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.
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