| Title and Description |
|---|
| 2012 - June - Alaska - Identification Showing Residence is Neither a Street Address or Rural Route and Box Number
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance to federal firearms licensees (FFLs) in Alaska regarding firearms transferees whose government issued identification documents indicate a residence address that is neither a street address nor a rural route and box number address.
Published/Revised: |
| 2011 - December - All FFLs - State of Residence
The purpose of this open letter is to inform all federal firearms licensees that ATF will be revising the regulations in 27 C.F.R. Part 478 to conform to the Department of Justice's conclusions by removing the separate 90-day residency requirement for aliens.
Published/Revised: |
| 2011 - December - All FFLs - Future Amendment of Nonimmigrant Alien Provisions
The purpose of this open letter is to inform all federal firearms licensees that ATF is in the process of amending its regulations and forms related to nonimmigrant alien provisions of the Gun Control Act.
Published/Revised: |
| 2011 - November - All FFLs - Recent Changes to Florida State Law
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance on the recent changes to Florida state law and to assist federal firearms licensees in complying with federal firearms laws and regulations and how they may affect Florida county ordinances that require sellers to wait five days before delivering a firearm.
Published/Revised: |
| 2011 - September - All FFLs - Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance on the issue of marijuana for medicinal purposes and its applicability to federal firearms laws.
Published/Revised: |
| 2011 - August - All FFLs - Rural Route Address
The purpose of this open letter is to provide further guidance regarding purchasers who present an identification document bearing a rural route address.
Published/Revised: |
| 2011 - August - All FFLs - September 11th Anniversary
The purpose of this letter is to encourage all federal firearms licensees to increase their awareness and vigilance as the anniversary of September 11th approaches.
Published/Revised: |
| 2011 - August - Nevada - All FFLs - Concealed Firearm Permit Qualifies as Alternative to NICS Check
The purpose of this letter is to advise all Nevada federal firearms licensees that Nevada's Concealed Firearm Permit qualifies as an alternative to the background check required by the Brady law.
Published/Revised: |
| 2011 - June - Iowa - Transferring a Firearm to an Unlicensed Person Using an Iowa Permit Alternative
The open letter provides guidance to all Iowa federal firearms licensees when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person using an Iowa issued permit as an alternative to a NICS background check.
Published/Revised: |
| 2011 - May - Kansas - All FFLs - National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Requirement Exception
The purpose of this open letter is to advise you of an important change to the procedure you may follow to comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. This open letter supersedes the document by the same title, posted on April 8, 2010.
Published/Revised: |
| 2011 - May - All FFLs - Complying with Recordkeeping Requirements When Initial NICS Response Changed
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance to Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) on how to comply with recordkeeping requirements when there is a change to the response initially received by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) during a background check for a firearm transfer. Published/Revised: |
| 2011 - April - Nebraska - Concealed Handgun Permit Qualifies as Alternative to NICS Check
The purpose of this open letter is to advise that ATF has reviewed Nebraska's Concealed Handgun Permit Act, as amended in 2010 by Legislative Bill 817, and has determined that Nebraska's Concealed Handgun Permit does qualify as an alternative to the background check required by the Brady law.
Published/Revised: |
| 2011 - April - National - Submitting ATF Form 4 or Form 5
The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance to any person submitting ATF Form 4, Application for Tax Paid Transfer and Registration of a Firearm, or with ATF Form 5, Application for Tax Exempt Transfer and Registration of a Firearm.
Published/Revised: |
| 2010 - August - All FFLs - Acquisition and Disposition Records Maintained by Licensed Importers
ATF is committed to keeping industry members informed of statutory and regulatory developments affecting them. In furtherance of this commitment, we have prepared this open letter, which contains information about a recent clarification on the “date of importation” required to be recorded in a licensed importer’s record of acquisition, often referred to as the “bound book.”
Published/Revised: |
| 2010 - May - Wyoming - All FFLs - Guidance Regarding Wyoming Firearms Freedom Act
The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance on your obligations as a Federal Firearms Licensee. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is providing you with the following information, intended to assist you in complying with Title 18 United States Code, Chapter 44. Published/Revised: |
| 2009 - July - Tennessee - Passage of the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance on your obligations as a federal firearms licensee (FFL) with respect to the passage of the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act that took effect on June 19, 2009.
Published/Revised: |
| 2009 - July - Montana - Guidance Regarding Montana Firearms Freedom Act
The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance on your obligations as a federal firearms licensee (FFL) and the passage of the Montana Firearms Freedom Act.
Published/Revised: |
| 2009 - July - All FFLs - Selling or Delivering Firearms Frames or Receivers
The purpose of the this open letter is to provide guidance on certain regulatory requirements and definitions under the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) about selling or delivering firearm frames or receivers. Published/Revised: |
| 2009 - January - All FFLs - Use and Acceptance of Electronically Transmitted PCS Military Orders
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance on the use and acceptance of electronically transmitted permanent change of station (PCS) military order to establish a transferee's state of residence. Published/Revised: |
| 2008 - August - All FFLs - Clarification for FFLs on Obtaining a Marking Variance
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of an important clarification to the manner in which a Federal Firearms License holder can obtain a marking variance from the provisions of 27 CFR 478.92.
Published/Revised: |
| 2008 - August - South Carolina - All FFLs - Amendment to South Carolina Law Prohibiting Handgun Sales to Persons Under 18 Years of Age
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.
Published/Revised: |
| 2008 - June - All FFLs - Clarification for Firearms Importers on the Importability of Firearms Barrels
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance to federally licensed firearms importers and registered importers of U.S. Munitions Import List Articles and clarification on the importability of firearms barrels. Published/Revised: |
| 2008 - May - All FFLs - Security Firms Temporarily Assigning Firearms to Unlicensed Employees
The purpose of this open letter is to inform security firms and other persons who have federal firearms licenses (FFLs), and who may temporarily assign firearms to their unlicensed employees in furtherance of legitimate business purposes, of the statutory and regulatory requirements that affect them. Published/Revised: |
| 2008 - May - Nevada- All FFLs - Nevada's Carry Concealed Weapon Permits No Longer Qualify as NICS Check Alternative
The purpose of this letter is to advise you that beginning July 1, 2008, Nevada's Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) permits will no longer qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. Published/Revised: |
| 2008 - May - All FFLs - Procedural Guidance for Licensed and/or Registered Importers for ATF Form 6A
This open letter is a reminder of the procedures to follow when completing ATF Form 6A as outlined in 27 CFR 478.112 and on the instruction page of the form. Published/Revised: |
Firearms Open Letters
Last Updated:
August 21, 2025
