| Title and Description |
|---|
| 2007 - June - All FFLs - Post Office Boxes or Rural Route Numbers as Residence Address
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance regarding firearms transferees whose only identification documents indicate only Post Office Box or Rural Route number as a residence address. Published/Revised: |
| 2007 - June - Kentucky - Amendment to What Was Formerly Known as Kentucky's Contiguous State Law
The purpose of this open letter is to advise that the recent amendment to what was formerly known as Kentucky's contiguous state law has no effect on federal firearms laws and regulations.
Published/Revised: |
| 2006 - July - Tribal Law Enforcement - Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence
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.
Published/Revised: |
| 2006 - July - Kentucky - Kentucky Carry Concealed Deadly Weapon License as Alternative to NICS Check
The purpose of this letter is to advise you that the Kentucky Carry Concealed Deadly Weapon License (CCDWL) issued on or after July 12, 2006, will qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. Published/Revised: |
| 2006 - July - Georgia - All FFLs - Georgia's Concealed Weapons Permit Again Qualifies as Alternative to NICS Check
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of an important change to the procedure you may follow beginning July 1, 2006. On this day, Georgia's Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) will again qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. Accordingly, the Oct. 17, 2005, Open Letter to Georgia Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) is superseded.
Published/Revised: |
| 2006 - May - All FFLs - New E-mail Service Available to Federal Firearms Licensees
ATF is offering federal firearms licensees (FFLs) a new option to receive ATF information by email. This voluntary service will allow FFLs to receive newsletters, open letters, and important notices by email. Published/Revised: |
| 2006 - May - All FFLs - Flare Inserts - Any Other Weapon
This open letter provides information regarding the use of an insert/sleeve designed to be installed in an Orion 25mm/12 gauge flare launcher that allows the use of conventional ammunition in these flare launchers.
Published/Revised: |
| 2006 - May - All FFLs - Adding a Vertical Fore Grip to a Handgun
This open letter provides information regarding the effect of adding a vertical fore grip to a handgun, therefore making it a firearm that falls under the National Firearms Act (NFA). Published/Revised: |
| 2006 - May - New York - New York's License to Carry and Possess Handguns No Longer Qualifies as Alternative to NICS Check
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.
Published/Revised: |
| 2006 - April - All FFLs - Child Safety Lock Act of 2005
This open letter serves to notify Federal firearms licensees that the Child Safety Lock Act of 2005 makes it generally unlawful for any licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer to sell, deliver, or transfer any handgun to any person, other than another licensee, unless the transferee (buyer) is provided with a secure gun storage or safety device for that handgun.
Published/Revised: |
| 2006 - March - All FFLs - Filing National Firearms Act Transaction Forms by Facsimile Transmission
This is to update information regarding the filing of certain National Firearms Act (NFA) forms by facsimile transmission as the functions of the NFA Branch have been relocated to Martinsburg, West Virginia from Washington, D.C. Published/Revised: |
| 2006 - January - All FFLs - Certain Firearms Transfers Affected by Change to Atomic Energy Act of 1954
The purpose of this open letter is to advise all federal firearms licensees (FFLs) of a recent change to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as it relates to the transfer of certain types of firearms.
Published/Revised: |
| 2006 - January - All FFLs - Change to Look of Federal Firearms License
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of a change to the look of the Federal firearms license (FFL) beginning Jan. 12, 2006, in response to feedback received from licensees.
Published/Revised: |
| 2006 - January - Nevada - Nevada's Carry Concealed Weapon Permits Again Qualify as Alternative to NICS Check
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of an important change to the procedure you may follow beginning Jan. 5, 2006. On this day, Nevada's Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) permit will again qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. Accordingly, the Oct. 17, 2005, Open Letter to Nevada Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) is superseded. Published/Revised: |
| 2005 - December - Indiana - Procedures for Indiana FFLs Using the Revised ATF Form 4473
The purpose of this letter is to clarify that the revised ATF Form 4473, Firearms Transaction Record Part I - Over The Counter, has no effect on the procedures Indiana Federal Firearms Licensees must follow in order to comply with the Brady Law. The procedures enumerated in the September 2003 Open Letter to All Indiana Firearms Licensees are still in effect.
Published/Revised: |
| 2005 - December - Pennsylvania - Private Transfers of Firearms and Using NICS or the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS)
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.”
Published/Revised: |
| 2005 - All FFLs - Lawful Importation of Certain Firearm Barrels Into the United States for Commercial Purposes
The purpose of this open letter is to update licensed and registered importers of firearms, ammunition and other regulated commodities on the lawful importation of certain firearm barrels into the United States for commercial purposes.
Published/Revised: |
| 2005 - October - U.S. Virgin Islands - All FFLs - U.S. Virgin Islands Firearms Permits No Longer Alternative to NICS Check
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.
Published/Revised: |
| 2005 - October - Georgia - All FFLs - Georgia's Concealed Weapons Permits No Longer Alternative to NICS Check
The purpose of this letter is to inform all Georgia Federal firearms licensees (FFL) that Georgia's Concealed Weapons Permits no longer qualifies as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. Published/Revised: |
| 2005 - October - Nevada - All FFLs - Nevada's Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) Permits No Longer Alternative to NICS Check
This letter is superseded by ATF's Jan. 5, 2006, open letter. The purpose of this letter is to inform Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) that beginning Oct. 19, 2005, 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: |
| 2005 - October - Alaska - All FFLs - Alaska Concealed Handgun Permits Marked "NICS Exempt" Qualify as NICS Check Alternative
This open letter informs Alaska Federal firearms licensees that beginning Oct. 19, 2005, only Alaska Concealed Handgun Permits marked "NICS EXEMPT" will qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check.
Published/Revised: |
| 2005 - October - Northern Mariana Islands - All FFLs - Northern Mariana Island Weapons Identification
This open letter informs Northern Mariana Island Federal firearms licensees that beginning Oct. 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.
Published/Revised: |
| 2005 - August - All FFLs - Extension of Time to Effect Importation of Approved Permits for Frames, Receivers or Barrels
The purpose of this open letter is to provide important updated information to importers concerning the lawful importation of certain frames, receivers and barrels.
Published/Revised: |
| 2005 - July - All FFLs - Importation of Frames, Receivers or Barrels of Firearms Under Title 18 U.S.C. § 925(d)(3)
The purpose of this open letter is to provide important information to importers concerning the lawful importation of certain frames, receivers and barrels. Published/Revised: |
| 2005 - July - All FFLs - Importation of U.S. Manufactured Surplus Military Firearms Classified as Curios or Relics
This Open Letter is to advise all Federal Firearms Licensees and registered importers of U.S. munitions import list articles that ATF was advised by the Department of State, on a case-by-case basis, permit the retransfer of U.S. manufacturing military firearms that were sold or granted by the United States Government classified by ATF as curios or relics. Published/Revised: |
Firearms Open Letters
Last Updated:
August 21, 2025
