Firearms Open Letters

Titlesort descending Description
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.”
Pennsylvania-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (779.65 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Pennsylvania of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.
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.

Puerto Rico-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (68.14 KB) Open Letter to All FFL's regarding Brady Law.
Rhode Island-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (647.67 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Rhode Island of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.
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.
South Carolina-Dec1998-Open Letter-Correction Notice-Change to South Carolina Background Check Procedures (144.25 KB) This correction notice provides information regarding a change in the background check procedures for firearms transfers by all South Carolina Federal firearms licensees (FFLs). 
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-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 Dakota-Feb2017-Open Letter-South Dakota's Gold Card Concealed Pistol Permit and Enhanced Permit to Carry a Concealed Pistol (33.24 KB)
The purpose of this letter is to advise South Dakota Federal Firearms Licensees regarding ATF's determination of the South Dakota’s Gold Card Concealed Pistol Permit and Enhanced Permit to Carry a Concealed Pistol as alternatives to the background check. 
South Dakota-March 2021-Open Letter-Regular Concealed Carry Permit as NICS Alternative (205.68 KB)

A South Dakota Regular Concealed Carry Permit, issued on or after July 1, 2018, can be used as an alternative to the required NICS background check.

South Dakota-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (43.5 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in South Dakota of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.
Tennessee-July2009-Open Letter-Passage of the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act (73.33 KB)
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance on your obligations as a Federal firearms licensee (“FFL”) with respect to the the passage of the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act that took effect on June 19, 2009. 
Tennessee-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (460.96 KB)

The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Tennessee of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Texas Open Letter - HB 957 (219.77 KB)

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.

Texas-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (873.25 KB)

The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Texas of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Tribal Law Enforcement-July2006-Open Letter-Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence (374.84 KB)
This letter is to provide information to tribal law enforcement departments regarding the Omnibus Consolidation Appropriations Act of 1997.  This Act made it unlawful for any person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (MCDV) to ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms or ammunitions.
Utah-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (800.39 KB)

The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Utah of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Vermont - March 2023 - Open Letter - Changes to Vermont Law 13 V.S.A. § 4019 (178.29 KB)

Changes to Vermont Law, 13 Vermont Statutes Annotated (V.S.A.) § 4019, effective July 1, 2022, have generated questions from Vermont FFLs. This letter alerts Vermont FFLs to the recent changes in Vermont law and provides guidance to ensure Vermont FFLs remain in compliance.

Vermont-Dec2000-Open Letter-Notice of Amendment for Vermont Firearms Background Checks (734.05 KB)
The State of Vermont has advised us that effective February 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 (FBI) will assume responsibility for conducting NICS checks for firearms transactions in Vermont on February 1, 2002.
Vermont-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (637.13 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Vermont of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.
Virgin Islands-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (49.88 KB)


The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in the U.S. Virgin Islands of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Virgin Islands-Oct2005-Open Letter-U.S. Virgina Islands Firearms Permits No Longer Alternative to NICS Check (38.76 KB)
This open letter informs Federal firearms licensees in the U.S. Virgin Islands that the U.S. Virgin Islands Firearms Permits no longer qualifies as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check.
Virginia-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (731.39 KB)

The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Virginia of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Washington-Nov2003-Open Letter-Washington Concealed Weapons Permits are No Longer Valid Alternative to NICS Checks (144.67 KB)

The open letter is to inform all Washington State Federal firearms licensees that as of November 30, 2003, all the grandfathered permits will have expired and Washington FFLs may longer accept a Washington concealed weapons permit as an alternative to a NICS check.

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