Rules and Regulations Library
Title |
Description | Category | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
 All FELs-Jun2003-Open Letter-Reminder Regarding the Limited Permit (166 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to remind Federal explosives licensees and permittees to be vigilant during the Fourth of July holiday and provide information regarding the new intrastate limited permit.
| Explosives | Open Letter |
|
All FELs-July2011-Open Letter-State/Local Government Entities and Explosives Industry Members Distribution To and Receipt Of Explosive Pest Control Devices (EPCDs) (169 KB) |
This letter provides information regarding the distribution to and receipt of explosives for pest control and mitigation purposes by States or their political subdivisions.
| Explosives | Open Letter |
|
All FELs-July2009-Open Letter-Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant (APCP) (62 KB) |
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).
| Explosives | Open Letter |
|
All FELs-July2004-Open Letter-ATF Director's Letter to Explosives Industry to Be Aware and Be Secure (166 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to advise Federal explosives industry licensees and permittees to remain diligent in security and protection of their explosives inventory. | Explosives | Open Letter |
|
All FELs-Feb2009-Open Letter-Security Checklist (221 KB) | This advisory is a security checklist of best practices for all Federal explosives licensees and permittees. | Explosives | Open Letter |
|
All FELs-Feb2003-Open Letter-Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Explosives Regulations (138 KB) | This open letter announces that ATF is issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking affecting federal explosives regulations. | Explosives | Open Letter |
|
All FELs-Aug2011-Open Letter-September 11th Anniversary (60 KB) |
This open letter is to encourage Federal explosives licensees to exercise increased awareness and vigilance as the anniversary of September 11th approaches. The security of your explosives storage sites is very important. | Explosives | Open Letter |
|
All FELs-Aug2008-Open Letter-Guidance for Pending Natural Disasters (175 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to help you protect your business premises and inventory in the event of a natural disaster; and provide guidance on what to do if your business premises is damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster.
| Explosives | Open Letter |
|
All FELs-Apr2011-Open Letter-Importance of Security When Storing or Transporting Explosive Materials (64 KB) |
In response to continued thefts of vehicles carrying explosive materials along the southwest U.S. border, the ATF reminds all persons holding Federal explosives licenses or permits of the importance of security when storing or transporting explosive materials.
| Explosives | Open Letter |
|
Alaska-Oct2005-Open Letter-Alaska Concealed Handgun Permits Marked "NICS Exempt" Qualify as NICS Check Alternative (39 KB) |
This open letter informs Alaska Federal firearms licensees that beginning October 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.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
|
Alaska-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (50 KB) | The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Alaska of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. | Firearms | Open Letter |
|
Alaska-Jun2012-Open Letter-Identification Showing Residence is Neither a Street Address or Rural Route and Box Number (100 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance to Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) in Alaska regarding firearms transferees whose government issued identification documents indicate a residence address that is neither a street address nor a rural route and box number address.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
|
Alabama-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (45 KB) | The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Alabama of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. | Firearms | Open Letter |
|
Alabama-July2019-Public Safety Advisory-Alabama Federal firearms licensees transferring firearms (311 KB) |
The purpose of this public safety advisory is to notify you of an important change to the procedure you may follow to comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act (Brady Act), codified at 18 U.S.C. § 922(t), when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. | Firearms | Open Letter |
|
AG Order No. 3607-2016 - Commerce in Firearms and Ammunition - Reporting Theft or Loss of Firearms in Transit (700 KB) |
The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) concerning the statutory reporting requirement for firearms that have been stolen or lost. The final rule specifies that when a federal firearms licensee (FFL) discovers a firearm it shipped was stolen or lost in transit, the transferor/sender FFL must report the theft or loss to ATP and to the appropriate local authorities within 48 hours of discovery. | Firearms | Ruling |
|
AG Order 2650-2003: Federal Register Vol. 68, No. 21 (60 KB) |
The Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney (OPA), is exempting a Privacy Act system of records entitled ‘‘Executive Clemency Case Files/Executive Clemency Tracking System (JUSTICE/OPA–001)’’ from subsections (c)(3), (c)(4), (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3), (d)(4), and (e)(5) of the Privacy Act. Information in this system relates to the investigation and evaluation of applicants for executive clemency and case-related correspondence regarding such applicants and the clemency process. | Resource Center | Ruling |
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AG 3608-2016: Background Checks for Responsible Persons of a Trust or Legal Entity With Respect to Making or Transferring a Firearm (4940 KB) |
The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regarding the making or transferring of a firearm under the National Firearms Act (NFA). This final rule defines the term "responsible person," as used in reference to a trust, partnership, association, company, or corporation; requires responsible persons of such trusts or legal entities to complete a specified form and to submit photographs and fingerprints when the trust or legal entity files an application to make an NFA firearm or is listed as the transferee on an application to transfer an NFA firearm; requires that a copy of all applications to make or transfer a firearm, and the specified form for responsible persons, as applicable, be forwarded to the chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) of the locality in which the applicant/transferee or responsible person is located; and eliminates the requirement for a certification signed by the CLEO. These provisions provide a public safety benefit as they ensure that responsible persons undergo background checks. | Firearms | Ruling |
|
2023-1 - Electronic Explosives Records Ruling (378 KB) |
ATF authorizes Federal explosives licensees and permittees to maintain their explosives records electronically instead of in paper format, provided the conditions set forth in this ruling are met. | Explosives | Ruling |
|
2022-2 - Remote Avalanche Control Devices (237 KB) |
ATF authorizes Federal explosives licensees and permittees, and State and local government agencies conducting avalanche control/mitigation activities, to store explosives in remote avalanche control systems, provided the conditions set forth in this ruling are met. | Explosives | Ruling |
|
2022-01 - Electronic Storage of Forms 4473.pdf (227 KB) |
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) authorizes an alternate method or procedure from the provisions of Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 478.121, 478.124, 478.129, and 27 CFR 479.131 that require Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to retain the ATF Firearms Transaction Record, Form 4473 (5300.9) (Form 4473), in a paper format. Specifically, ATF authorizes FFLs to retain an electronic version of each ATF Form 4473 created pursuant to ATF Ruling 2016-2 (or subsequent ruling), instead of the paper format, provided the conditions set forth in this ruling are met. Additionally, ATF authorizes digital scanning and electronic retention of certain paper ATF Form 4473, provided the conditions set forth in this ruling are met. | Firearms | Ruling |
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2021R-05 - Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Definition of Frame or Receiver (1383 KB) | Rules and Regulations | Rulemaking | |
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2017-1-Revoking Certain Guidance Documents (283 KB) |
ATF is revoking several guidance documents; specifically three rulings, one procedure, and two industry circulars. ATF Procedure 75-4: Procedure incorporated into the Application for Explosives License or Permit, ATF Form 5400.13/16.; Industry Circular 75-10: Industry Circular incorporated into the Application for Explosives License or Permit, ATF Form 5400.13/16.; ATF Ruling 85-3: Ruling made obsolete by amendments to 18 U.S.C. 922(b)(3).; Industry Circular 85-3: Industry circular made obsolete by amendments to 18 U.S.C. 922(b)(3).; ATF Ruling 2001-1: Ruling made unnecessary and obsolete as the registration period ended May 1, 2001.: ATF Ruling 2004-1: Ruling made obsolete by amendments to 27 CFR 478.11 (definition of "State of residence").
| Resource Center | Ruling |
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2016-5 – Marking Variance for Government Defense Contractors (93 KB) |
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) authorizes an alternate method or procedure to the firearms marking requirements contained in title 27, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), sections 478.92 and 479.102. Specifically, ATF authorizes licensed manufacturers of certain destructive device munitions that are manufactured for and transferred to the U.S. Government (USG) to mark these destructive device munitions with sequential lot numbers, provided conditions set forth in this ruling are met.
| Firearms | Ruling |
|
2016-4 – Electronic Transmission of Form 6A Information to CBP (56 KB) |
ATF Ruling 2016-4 - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) authorizes an alternate method or procedure in lieu of the method or procedure prescribed in the regulations that currently require an importer to submit to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) an original, paper copy of ATF Form 6A, Release and Receipt of Imported Firearms, Ammunition and Implements of War (Form 6A), to import firearms, ammunition, and other defense articles.
| Firearms | Ruling |
|
2016-2 – Electronic ATF Form 4473 (160 KB) |
Approved alternate method or procedure for FFLs to use an electronic version of Form 4473, instead of the paper format, provided the conditions set forth in this ruling are met. Supersedes ATF Rul. 2008-3.
| Firearms | Ruling |