Rules and Regulations Library

All Federal Firearms Licensees and Others Concerned: This is to notify you that as a result of a formal process which began on April 22, 1980, the regulations have been changed (effective Nov. 29, 1984), to allow licensees to engage in business at gun shows held within the same State as the licensed premises.

Published/Revised: December 11, 2019

The purpose of this circular is to advise industry members that an ATF ruling will be published in a future issue of the ATF Quarterly Bulletin. The ruling will read substantially as follows: The ATF has been asked whether certain forms and other documents could optionally be transmitted to the Bureau by means of facsimile machines.

Published/Revised: May 4, 2021

The purpose of this circular is to advise industry members of serious problems with storage of explosives which may pose a danger to the public, and to alert industry members to the possibility of theft of explosives by terrorists because of the deteriorating Mideast situation.

Published/Revised: December 11, 2019

This circular reminds proprietors of distilled spirits plants (DSPs), importers, wholesalers and other persons who purchase distilled spirits products from DSPs of their responsibility to comply with all applicable Federal and state laws with respect to such sales.

Published/Revised: December 11, 2019

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

This circular announces the transfer of the Arms Import Control Program from the Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Treasury.

Published/Revised: November 4, 2019

This circular advises proprietors of their responsibility to ATF with respect to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act, and of the possible effects of these requirements upon their activities.

Published/Revised: November 4, 2019

This circular announces that ATF will allow the importation of surplus military curio or relic firearms that were previously prohibited from importation by 18 U.S.C. section 925(d)(3).

Published/Revised: November 4, 2019

This circular announces an addition of firearms that have been classified as curios and relics during the period January 1985 through March 1986.

Published/Revised: November 4, 2019

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

This circular announces the issuance of a new Treasury Department regulation, Part 180 of Title 26, Code of Federal Regulations, entitled Importation of Arms, Ammunition and Implements of War.

Published/Revised: November 4, 2019

This circular announces that the President signed Public Law 99-408, on Aug. 28,1986. This law regulates the manufacture, importation and sale of armor piercing ammunition.

Published/Revised: November 4, 2019

This circular notifies explosives licensees that ATF Form 5400.3, Transaction Record for Black Powder to be used for antique weapons, is no longer required.

Published/Revised: November 4, 2019

This circular provides information concerning the importation of National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms for use as a sample for sales to law enforcement agencies when such firearms have been determined to be curios or relics.

Published/Revised: May 5, 2021

The purpose of this industry circular is to advise firearms and ammunition excise taxpayers that effective Jan. 24, 2003, a new Treasury agency, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, will be responsible for administering the firearms and ammunition excise tax laws and regulations currently administered by ATF.

Published/Revised: May 5, 2021

In accordance with 27 CFR 178.92 and 27 CFR 179.102, identification of firearms, armor piercing ammunition, and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, the terms "conspicuously" and "legibly" as used therein mean, respectively, that the markings are wholly unobstructed from plain view and that the markings contain exclusively Roman letters and Arabic numerals.

Published/Revised: November 5, 2002

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the Browning M1919 type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Published/Revised: January 24, 2003

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the FN FAL type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Published/Revised: January 24, 2003

Published/Revised: May 23, 2003

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

Published/Revised: January 24, 2003

Published/Revised: October 12, 2005

Applications to transfer two (2) machineguns of a particular model to a federal firearms licensee as sales samples will be approved if documentation shows necessity for demonstration to government agencies.

Published/Revised: September 6, 2002

Licensees may accept a combination of valid government-issued documents to satisfy the identification document requirements of the Brady Act under certain conditions. An active-duty member of the Armed Forces is a resident of the State in which his or her permanent duty station is located and may satisfy the identification document requirement by presenting his or her military identification card along with official orders showing the permanent duty station as within the State where the licensed premises are located.

Published/Revised: December 31, 2002

Published/Revised: August 23, 2002

Published/Revised: August 23, 2002