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Rules and Regulations Library

Rules Regulations Library

Document Type Title and Description Category
Open Letter 1998 - October - Maine - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.87 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This open letter has been rescinded.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.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Open Letter 1998 - October - Michigan - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.43 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This open letter has been rescinded.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. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Open Letter 1998 - October - Guam - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.67 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This open letter has been rescinded.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. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Open Letter 1998 - October - Missouri - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.61 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This open letter has been rescinded.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. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Open Letter 1998 - October - Mississippi - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 2.13 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This open letter has been rescinded.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. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Open Letter 1998 - October - Minnesota - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 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This open letter has been rescinded.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. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Open Letter 1998 - October - Massachusetts - All FFLs - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 1.87 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This open letter has been rescinded.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. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Open Letter 2003 - October - Massachusetts - License to Carry No Longer an Alternative to NICS Check [PDF - 78.08 KB]

This open letter is to inform all Massachusetts federal firearms licensees that as of Oct. 21, 2003, all previously grandfathered Massachusetts licenses to carry will have expired. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Open Letter 2011 - April - National - Submitting ATF Form 4 or Form 5 [PDF - 93.76 KB]

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:

Firearms
Open Letter 2011 - May - All FFLs - Complying with Recordkeeping Requirements When Initial NICS Response Changed [PDF - 101.56 KB]

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:

Firearms
Open Letter 2011 - August - All FFLs - September 11th Anniversary [PDF - 89.4 KB]

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:

Firearms
Open Letter 2011 - June - Iowa - Transferring a Firearm to an Unlicensed Person Using an Iowa Permit Alternative [PDF - 108.63 KB]

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:

Firearms
Form Firearms Transaction Record Over-The-Counter - ATF Form 4473 (5300.9) [PDF - 416.57 KB]

Used by federal firearms licensees (FFLs) to determine if they may lawfully sell or deliver a firearm to the person identified in Section B, and to alert the transferee/buyer of certain restrictions on the receipt and possession of firearms.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 2007-1 - Maintaining Required Explosives Records in Computerized Form [PDF - 20.71 KB]

Under specified conditions, approval is granted to utilize computerized records as required records under 27 CFR 555, Subpart G.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Ruling 2010-6 - State of Residence [PDF - 97.66 KB]

For the purpose of acquiring firearms under the GCA, a U.S. citizen who temporarily resides in a foreign country, but also demonstrates the intention of making a home in a particular state, is a resident of the State during the time period he or she actually resides in that state. The intention must be demonstrated to a federal firearms licensee by presenting valid identification documents.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 2003-3 - Importation of Heckler & Koch G3 Type Receivers for Unrestricted Commercial Sale [PDF - 229.69 KB]

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the Heckler & Koch G3 type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 2007-2 - Temporary Storage of Display Fireworks [PDF - 73.61 KB]

Under specified conditions, display fireworks may be temporarily stored in locked, attended motor vehicles at explosives magazine site(s) and fireworks display site(s) without meeting 27 CFR 555.210 locking requirements provided certain security measures are in place.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Ruling 2012-2 - Storage of Display Fireworks in Picking Bins [PDF - 73.14 KB]

ATF authorizes alternate storage of display fireworks in fixed, unmarked, and uncovered bins inside explosives storage magazines provided all of the requirements of this ruling are met.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Ruling 2011-4 - Pistols Configured from Rifles; Rifles Configured from Pistols [PDF - 82.73 KB]

Unassembled parts and configurations of parts of pistols, rifles, handguns or other weapons that result in a firearm as defined under the NFA, 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)(3); 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)(3) and (a)(4); 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)(3) and (a)(4); and 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)(4).

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 2011-3 - Alternate Locks Authorized for Explosives Magazines [PDF - 97.6 KB]

ATF authorizes alternate use of hidden-shackle "hockey puck" locks, recessed padlocks, and padlocks with boron alloy shackles to secure explosives magazines, provided all of the requirements stated of this ruling have been met.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Ruling 2011-2 - Locking Requirements for Outdoor Type 5 Bin and Silo Magazines [PDF - 84.19 KB]

ATF authorizes alternate storage for explosives licensees and permittees to store bulk blasting agents in outdoor type 5 bin or silo magazines without the specified locks provided all of the requirements stated in this ruling have been met.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Ruling 2012-5 - Type 4 Magazine Construction [PDF - 68.58 KB]

ATF authorizes alternate storage for explosives licensees and permittees to store explosive materials in outdoor type 4 magazines with wood-only floors, provided all of the requirements stated in this ruling are met.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1973-13 - Gunsmithing Premises and Regular Business Hours [PDF - 27.32 KB]

Because of the nature of operations conducted by a gunsmith, he shall not be required to have business premises open to the general public or to have regular business hours.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1974-13 - Importation of Firearms by Members of the U.S. Armed Forces [PDF - 25.42 KB]

A member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is a resident of any state or territory which requires that a permit or other authorization be issued prior to possessing or owning a handgun shall submit evidence of compliance with state law when applying to import a handgun.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1974-20 - Disposition of Replacement Firearms [PDF - 107.08 KB]

Form 4473 shall not be required to record disposition of a like replacement firearm when such firearm is delivered by a licensee to the person from whom the malfunctioning or damaged firearm was received, provided such disposition is recorded in the licensee's permanent records.

Published/Revised:

Firearms

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