Rules and Regulations Library

This open letter has been rescinded.  The purpose of this letter is to provide clarification and guidance on alternative permit procedures that comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act (Brady law) for firearms transfers to unlicensed persons in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. 

Published/Revised: July 29, 2025

This open letter has been rescinded.  The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in Nebraska of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised: July 29, 2025

ATF is committed to helping federal firearms licensees (FFLs) understand their legal obligations under federal law. This open letter advises Wisconsin FFLs that, effective immediately, the Wisconsin concealed carry license does not qualify as an alternative permit/license for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 922(t)(3), which allows FFLs to accept certain state-issued licenses in lieu of running a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) when transferring a firearm to a nonlicensee. 

Published/Revised: July 25, 2025

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this open letter is to advise you that the Louisiana Lifetime Concealed Handgun Permit meets the requirements as an alternative to the NICS check only during the five-year period beginning on the date of issuance of the Lifetime Permit.

Published/Revised: July 9, 2025

This open letter has been rescinded. 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 (Brady Act), 18 U.S.C. § 922(t), when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. 

Published/Revised: July 9, 2025

ATF Citizens' Academy Application - The Citizens' Academy is an event for local community, religious and civic leaders, and organizations to interact and talk directly with ATF special agents and participate in hands-on activities related to ATF's areas of investigative responsibilities.

Published/Revised: July 2, 2025

This supplemental Part B of the ATF Form 7 / 7 CR (F 5310.12/F 5310.16), Application for Federal Firearms License, is required to be completed by each Responsible Person (RP) who will be on a new federal firearms license (FFL). The Form 7 / 7 CR itself only has space for one (1) RP’s information; all additional RPs must complete and submit this form supplement. This supplement should also be used when adding RPs to an existing FFL. When submitting this form to add a Responsible Person to an already existing license, the form must be accompanied by a signed written request from a current/existing RP already on the license. We cannot process a form to add an additional RP to an existing license without the express written consent from an existing RP on the license.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

This form is used to determine the eligibility of the employee possessor (EP) to engage in certain explosives operations.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

This form is used to apply to temporarily import firearms and ammunition for lawful hunting or sporting purposes. For use by visiting foreign nationals (nonimmigrant aliens) only.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

ATF has determined that federal firearms licensees may lawfully import “dual-use” firearm barrels—barrels that may be used on both sporting and non-sporting firearms—under 18 U.S.C. § 925(d)(3) if, at the time imported, there is an identified firearm sporting configuration for the barrel. Importation may be approved regardless of whether a barrel had been previously configured on non-sporting, military surplus, or National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms. Further, once the barrel is in the United States, ATF has determined that nothing in the statutes prevent a dual-use barrel from being used to assemble a sporting, non-sporting, or NFA firearm, provided assembling such firearm complies with 18 U.S.C. § 922(r) (assembly of a semiautomatic rifle or shotgun) and the NFA, 26 U.S.C. chapter 53, as applicable. This Ruling supersedes a November 2005 ATF Open Letter on dual-use barrels.

Published/Revised: June 24, 2025

ATF authorizes the importation of certain marking rounds (“training rounds”) because these training rounds do not meet the definition of “ammunition” as defined by the Gun Control Act of 1968, 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(17)(A). These items are not designed for offensive and defensive combat and are not “designed for use in any firearm.” Similarly, training rounds are not regulated by the Arms Export Control Act because they are not designed for use in any “firearm” as defined in the permanent importation regulations implementing that statute. An importer of training rounds that are not designed for use in any firearm may import the rounds without submitting an ATF Form 6, Application and Permit for Importation of Firearms, Ammunition and Implements of War (Form 5330.3A). Note, however, less-than-lethal ammunition, which is distinct from training rounds, is generally considered ammunition. This Ruling only applies to training rounds that are not designed for use in any firearm. 

Published/Revised: June 24, 2025

The purpose of this open letter is to advise all federal firearms licensees (FFLs) of updated guidance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) that reminds you of your obligations under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act), 18 U.S.C. § 922(t), when transferring a firearm to a person who is not an FFL.

Published/Revised: May 23, 2025

This document provides information regarding the procedure for requesting a computerized bookkeeping variance.

Published/Revised: May 7, 2025

When a Type 01, Type 02, Type 07, or Type 08 Federal firearms licensee meets the criteria of the ATF Demand 2 Program and is notified in writing by an ATF official, the licensee must complete ATF Form 5300.5, Demand 2 Program: Report of Firearms Transactions.

Published/Revised: January 1, 2025

This letter alerts Vermont FFLs to the enactment of Vermont statute 13 V.S.A. § 4019a, effective July 1, 2023, and reminds FFLs of their obligation to remain in compliance with state and federal law.

Published/Revised: November 29, 2024

This form is required of all Type 07 and Type 10 federal firearms licensees (FFLs) for reporting production data for the manufacture and exportation of firearms.

Instead of printing this form and mailing it in, please consider using eForms to electronically complete and submit your AFMER form. You can complete the AFMER eForm at www.atf.gov/firearms/applications-eforms. If you need assistance with eForms, send an email to eforms.admin@atf.gov.

Published/Revised: November 26, 2024

This circular reminds all persons of the federal law (and penalties) applying to the shipments, sale or possession of cigarettes and to the domestic sales of cigarettes marked for export. Additionally, this circular addresses the sale of cigarettes on Native American tribal reservations.

Published/Revised: November 21, 2024

The purpose of this open letter is to remind affected persons of the Gun Control Act (GCA), National Firearms Act (NFA), and Arms Export Control Act (AECA), and associated federal regulations as they apply to firearms brought into Customs Bonded Warehouses (CBWs) and Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs).

Published/Revised: November 7, 2024

This form is for federal, state and local, military and international law enforcement personnel to apply for training conducted by ATF.

Published/Revised: November 6, 2024

ATF requires that non-ATF personnel and ATF sponsors (i.e., contracting officer’s technical representative (COTR) and points of contact (POC)) complete ATF Form 8620.42 when requesting that non-ATF personnel be granted escorted access to ATF facilities, non-sensitive information, and/or construction sites in order to perform low risk, non-sensitive duties. 

Published/Revised: November 4, 2024

This form is used to obtain approval to permanently export a National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm and claim exemption from transfer tax. State Department export approval is required prior to ATF Form 9 being approved. 

Published/Revised: September 30, 2024

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is committed to helping federal firearms licensees (FFLs) successfully comply with their legal obligations. This letter alerts you to a new firearms law enacted in the State of New Mexico, to aid you in complying with state and federal law.

Published/Revised: September 9, 2024

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recently examined devices commonly marketed as “solvent traps” and has determined that some of them are “firearm silencers” as defined in the Gun Control Act (GCA) and as defined in the National Firearms Act (NFA).

Published/Revised: August 16, 2024

This circular has been published to inform you of a potential explosion hazard relating to a malfunctioning of automatic ammunition reloading equipment.

Published/Revised: August 12, 2024

This circular announces the reclassification of small caliber weapons (such as pen guns) ostensibly designed to expel only tear gas, similar substances or pyrotechnic signals, which may be converted to expel a projectile by means of an explosive, as firearms.

Published/Revised: August 9, 2024