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Rules and Regulations Library

Rules Regulations Library

Document Type Title and Description Category
Ruling 1995-3 - 37/38mm Gas/Flare Guns with Anti-Personnel Ammunition are Defined as NFA Weapons [PDF - 30.4 KB]

37/38 mm gas/flare guns possessed with cartridges containing wood pellets, rubber pellets or balls, or bean bags are classified as destructive devices for purposes of the Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44, and the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53. 

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1976-15 - Acquisition and Disposition of Pawned Firearms [PDF - 51.13 KB]

Certain reporting and recordkeeping requirements of pawnbrokers are explained.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1976-18 - Alternate Bullet-Resistant Construction Standards for Explosives Magazines [PDF - 20.54 KB]

ATF prescribes alternate bullet resistance construction standards for explosives storage facilities.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Ruling 1976-22 - Qualifying Tax Free Transfers [PDF - 84.68 KB]

Mere possession of a license and a special tax stamp as a dealer in firearms does not qualify a person to receive firearms transfer-tax-free. Rev. Rul. 58-432 superseded.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1982-2 - KG-9 Pistol as NFA Weapon [PDF - 25.1 KB]

The KG-9 pistol is a machinegun as defined in the National Firearms Act.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1977-24 - Storage Compartments on Vehicles [PDF - 39.21 KB]

Alternate magazine construction standards for storage of electric blasting caps with other explosive materials are prescribed.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Ruling 1977-1 - Gunsmithing at Shooting Events [PDF - 50.03 KB]

The recordkeeping requirements for licensed gunsmiths are clarified. ATF Rul. 73-13 amplified.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1975-21 - Construction of Storage Facilities by the Department of Defense - Concrete Floors [PDF - 13.74 KB]

Certain explosives storage facilities meeting standards of construction prescribed by the Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board are approved.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Public Advisory Regulation of Explosives in Transit [PDF - 306.92 KB]

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), has regulatory and civil enforcement authority over the transportation of explosive materials in commerce.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Industry Circular Youth Handgun Safety Act Notice - ATF I 5300.2 [PDF - 96.77 KB]

Federal law prohibits, except in certain limited circumstances, anyone under 18 years of age from knowingly possessing a handgun, or any person from selling, delivering, or otherwise transferring a handgun to a person under 18. A knowing violation of the prohibition against selling, delivering, or otherwise transferring a handgun to a person under the age of 18 is, under certain circumstances, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1982-8 - SM10, SM11A Pistols and SAC Carbines as NFA Weapons [PDF - 27.17 KB]

The SM10 and SM11A1 pistols and SAC carbines are machineguns as defined in the National Firearms Act.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1983-5 - STEN MK II as NFA Weapon [PDF - 23.56 KB]

The YAC STEN MK II carbine is a machinegun as defined in the National Firearms Act.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1985-10 - Surplus Military Frames or Receivers, Alone, Denied Importation [PDF - 31.73 KB]

Surplus military firearms frames or receivers alone not specifically classified as curios or relics by ATF will be denied importation.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1994-2 - Striker 12 Shotgun Defined as NFA Weapon [PDF - 34.83 KB]

The Striker-12/Streetsweeper shotgun has a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter and is not generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes. Therefore, it is classified as a destructive device for purposes of the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1996-2 - Estate Sale Auctioneers and FFL Requirements [PDF - 31.65 KB]

Auctioneers who regularly conduct consignment-type auctions of firearms, e.g., held every 1-2 months, on behalf of firearms owners where the auctioneer takes possession pursuant to a consignment contract with the owner of the firearms, giving the auctioneer authority to sell the firearms and providing for a commission to be paid upon such sale, are required to obtain a license as a dealer in firearms.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1976-25 - Recordkeeping Requirements Salvaged Firearms [PDF - 68.88 KB]

Recordkeeping requirements for Title I firearms from which parts are salvaged for use in repairing firearms are clarified.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1976-6 - Tasers as Firearms [PDF - 25.14 KB]

A hand-held device designed to expel by means of an explosive two electrical contacts (barbs) connected by two wires attached to a high voltage source in the device classified as a firearm.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1974-8 - NFA Firearms for Official Use Only [PDF - 67.45 KB]

When NFA firearms are registered on Form 10 by governmental entities, subsequent transfers of such firearms shall be made only to other governmental entities.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1981-4 - Auto Sear [PDF - 12.82 KB]

The AR15 auto sear is a machinegun as defined by 26 U.S.C. 5845(b).

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1975-7 - Small Caliber Penguns [PDF - 50.38 KB]

A small caliber weapon ostensibly designed to expel only tear gas, similar substances, or pyrotechnic signals, which may readily be converted to expel a projectile by means of an explosive, classified as a firearm.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1975-31 - Meaning of the Terms "Engaged in the Business" [PDF - 12.37 KB]

Explosives manufacturer license required for certain companies that manufacture explosive materials for use in their own operations.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Ruling 1981-3 - Importation of Firearms Acquired Outside the U.S. by U.S. Citizens [PDF - 29.08 KB]

Nonresident U.S. citizens returning to the United States and nonresident aliens lawfully immigrating to the United States may obtain a permit to import firearms acquired outside of the United States, provided such firearms may be lawfully imported.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1980-21 - Identification of State of Residency for Out-of-State College Students [PDF - 22.54 KB]

An out-of-State college student may establish residence in a State by residing and maintaining a home in a college dormitory or in a location off-campus during the school term.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1980-8 - Importation of Surplus Military Firearms for Law Enforcement [PDF - 24.75 KB]

Applications to import surplus military firearms or nonsporting firearms or ammunition for individual law enforcement officers for official use must be accompanied by the agency's purchase order.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 1980-20 - Rifle Bore Tasers as Firearms [PDF - 23.39 KB]

A hand-held device with a hand grip bent at an angle to the bore and having a rifled bore which is designed to expel, by means of an explosive, two electrical contacts (barbs) connected by two wires to a high voltage source within the device is classified as a firearm. ATF Rul. 76-6 is amplified.

Published/Revised:

Firearms

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