Rules Regulations Library
| Document Type | Title and Description | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Open Letter | 1998 - October - New York - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law
This open letter has been rescinded.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 | 1999 - July - Colorado - Correction Notice - State of Colorado Point of Contact for Background Checks
This open letter has been rescinded. The Colorado Department of Public Safety recently notified ATF that the State of Colorado will again act as the point of contact for NICS checks for all firearms transactions. Therefore, beginning Aug. 1, 1999, in order to request a NICS check for any firearm transaction, you must contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 2012 - September - All FELs - Table of Distance Requirements
The purpose of this open letter is to provide information regarding ATF revisiting its guidelines for the application of the tables of distances for the storage of certain explosive materials.
Published/Revised: |
Explosives |
| Open Letter | 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: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 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: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 2011 - November - All FELs - Clarify the Definition of "Display Fireworks" in the Federal Explosives Regulations
The purpose of this letter is to clarify the definition of "display fireworks" in the federal explosives regulations.
Published/Revised: |
Explosives |
| Open Letter | 2011 - September - All FFLs - Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes
This open letter has been rescinded. 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: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 2011 - March - All FELs - Exemption of Tribal Display Materials
This open letter is to all federally recognized Indian tribes and explosives licensees and permittees and provides guidance regarding the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010. The law created an exemption for federally recognized Indian tribes or tribal agencies from provisions of the Federal explosives laws with respect to display fireworks.
Published/Revised: |
Explosives |
| Open Letter | 2000 - April - North Dakota - Correction Notice - Qualifying Permit Alternatives to NICS Check
This open letter has been rescinded. The provisions of North Dakota law regarding the issuance of concealed weapons permits were recently amended. Based on these changes, concealed weapons permits issued on or after Dec. 1, 1999, will now qualify as alternatives to a NICS check at the time of transfer. Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 1999 - September - South Carolina - Notice of Amendment - South Carolina Ceases Operations as NICS Point of Contact
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has now notified ATF and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that they will cease operations as the NICS point of contact on Sept. 30, 1999. Therefore, beginning Oct. 1, 1999, in order to initiate a NICS check for any firearm, South Carolina licensees must contact the FBI's NICS Operations Center
Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 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: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 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: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 2009 - July - All FELs - Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant
The purpose of this letter is to provide Federal explosives licensees and permittees with information about the recent district court decision regarding ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP).
Published/Revised: |
Explosives |
| Open Letter | 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: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 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: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 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: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 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: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 2005 - July - All FFLs - Department of State Rescinded Sanctions on Trade in Defense Articles and Services From South Africa
The purpose of this open letter is to inform licensed firearms importers and registered importers of U.S. Munitions Import List Articles that the United States Department of State has rescinded the sanctions on trade in defense articles and services from South Africa. Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 2008 - January - National - Submitting Payments to ATF
The purpose of this letter is to provide notification that the ATF will be switching to electronic funds processing (ECP) for all payments received by the agency.
Published/Revised: |
Workforce and Mission |
| Open Letter | 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 Letter | 2004 - December - All FFLs - Establishment of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Voluntary Appeal File
The purpose of this letter is to inform Federal firearms licensees that the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) National Instant Criminal Background Check System's (NICS) Voluntary Appeal File (VAF) has been established. Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 2003 - November - Washington - Washington Concealed Weapons Permits No Longer Valid Alternative to NICS Checks
The open letter is to inform all Washington State federal firearms licensees that as of Nov. 30, 2003, all the grandfathered permits will have expired, and Washington FFLs may longer accept a Washington concealed weapons permit as an alternative to a NICS check. Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 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: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 2019 - December - All FFLs - Franklin Armory Reformation Firearm
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATP) has received questions from industry members and the general public regarding a new type of firearm produced by the Franklin Armory®. This 'firearm, known as the "Reformation", utilizes a barrel that is produced with straight lands and grooves. This design contrasts with conventional rifling, in which the barrel's lands and grooves are spiral or twisted, and are designed to impart a spin onto the projectile. Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
| Open Letter | 2000 - December - Vermont - Notice of Amendment for Vermont Firearms Background Checks
This open letter has been rescinded. The State of Vermont has advised us that effective Feb. 1, 2002, it will no longer act as a point of contact for NICS checks. In the absence of any further Vermont legislation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation will assume responsibility for conducting NICS checks for firearms transactions in Vermont on Feb. 1, 2002. Published/Revised: |
Firearms |
