Rules and Regulations Library

Titlesort descending Description Category Document Type
Great Resistance Education and Training Program: Availability of Financial Assistance, Criteria and Application Procedures (96 KB)

Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) intends to enter into cooperative agreements with State and local law enforcement agencies to assist them in providing the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program to school students. This notice also sets forth the intended funding priorities and criteria, as well as the application procedures that ATF will use to select, and award Federal funds to, State and local law enforcement agencies to deliver the G.R.E.A.T. Program.

Resource Center General Notice
Guam-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (880 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Guam of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
Hawaii-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (45 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Hawaii of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
Idaho-Oct1998-Firearms-Establishment of National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) (841 KB) 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, when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. This open letter supersedes the document by the same title, posted on April 8, 2010. Firearms Open Letter
Identification Markings Placed on Firearm Silencers and Firearm Mufflers ANPRM (66 KB) The Department of Justice is considering amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to require licensed manufacturers, licensed importers, and nonlicensed makers to place identification markings on the outer tube of firearm silencers and firearm mufflers. The Department wishes to gather information and comments from the public and industry concerning whether or not the regulations should be amended. Firearms Rulemaking
Identification Markings Placed on Imported Explosive Materials and Miscellaneous Amendments (2000R-238P) (79 KB)

The Department of Justice is amending the current regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to require licensed importers to identify by marking all explosive materials they import for sale or distribution. Licensed manufacturers currently are required to place identification markings on explosive materials manufactured in the United States. Similar marking requirements, however, do not currently exist for imported explosive materials. Identification markings are needed on explosives to help ensure that these materials can be effectively traced for criminal enforcement purposes.

Explosives Rulemaking
Illinois-May2008-Open Letter-Illinois Firearms Owner Identification (FOID) Cards No Longer Qualify as an (120 KB)
The purpose of this open letter is to advise you that beginning July 1, 2008, Illinois Firearms Owner Identification (FOID) cards no longer qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check.
Firearms Open Letter
Implementation of Public Law 105-277 Relating to Secure Gun Storage, Amended Definition of “Antique Firearm,” and Miscellaneous Amendments (99R 125P) (247 KB) The Department of Justice proposes amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), to codify into regulation certain provisions of Public Law 105-277, Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999.  The proposed rule would amend ATF’s regulations to account for the existing statutory requirement for applicants for firearms dealer licenses to certify that secure gun storage or safety devices will be available at any place where firearms are sold under the license to nonlicensed individuals, and amend definitions of certain terms, including an amended definition of “antique firearm,” to include certain muzzle loading firearms.  Rules and Regulations Rulemaking
Implementation of the Safe Explosives Act, Title XI, Subtitle C of Public Law 107-296 - Delivery of Explosives by Common or Contract Carrier (53 KB)

The Department of Justice is amending current regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to remove the requirement that common or contract  carriers taking possession of explosive materials for delivery to a licensee or permittee complete ATF Form 5400.8 (Explosives Delivery Record) prior to taking possession of explosive materials, regardless of whether they are hired by the distributor or by the distributee. ATF believes that this requirement is unduly burdensome and unnecessary. Furthermore, ATF does not believe  that the elimination of this form will result in diversion of explosive materials to criminal or terrorist use.

Explosives Rulemaking
Implementation of the Safe Explosives Act, Title XI, Subtitle of Public Law 107-296 (195 KB)

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is amending the regulations to implement the provisions of the Safe Explosives Act, Title XI, Subtitle C of Pub. L. 107–296, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (enacted November 25, 2002).

Explosives General Notice
Implementation of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 Regarding Trafficking in Contraband Cigarettes or Smokeless Tobacco (2006R-1P) (111 KB)

The Department of Justice is proposing to amend the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to implement certain provisions of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (enacted March 9, 2006) relating to trafficking in contraband cigarettes or smokeless tobacco.

Alcohol & Tobacco Rulemaking
Importation of Arms, Ammunition and Defense Articles - Removal of Certain Defense Articles Currently on the U.S. Munitions Import List that No Longer Warrant Import Control Under the Arms Export Control Act (2011R-25P) Mar. 27, 2014 (74 KB)

The Department of Justice is amending Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regulations to remove those defense articles currently on the U.S. Munitions Import List that ATF by delegation has determined no longer warrant import control under the Arms Export Control Act.

Firearms Rulemaking
Importation of Arms, Ammunition and Defense Articles - Removal of Certain Defense Articles Currently on the U.S. Munitions Import List that No Longer Warrant Important Control Under the Arms Export Control Act (2011R-25P) (60 KB)

The Department of Justice is finalizing without change an amendment to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives regulations to remove those defense articles currently on the United States Munitions Import List that ATF by delegation has determined no longer warrant import control under the Arms Export Control Act.

Firearms Rulemaking
Importation of Arms, Ammunition and Implements of War and Machine Guns, Destructive Devices, and Certain Other Firearms, Extending the Term of Import Permits (2010R-26P) Feb. 7, 2014 (69 KB)

This rule amends the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to extend the standard term of import permits for firearms, ammunition, and defense articles from 1 year to 2 years.

Firearms Rulemaking
Importation of Arms, Ammunition and Implements of War and Machine Guns, Destructive Devices, and Certain Other Firearms; Extending the Term of Import Permits (2010R-26P) Feb. 6, 2012 (69 KB)

The Department of Justice is proposing to amend the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to extend the term of import permits for firearms, ammunition, and defense articles from 1 year to 2 years. The additional time will allow importers sufficient time to complete the importation of the authorized commodity. In addition, it will eliminate the need for the importer to submit a new import application, ATF Form 6, where the importation was not completed within the 1-year period. Extending the term of import permits will result in a substantial cost and time savings for both the industry and ATF. This proposed change would be consistent with Executive Order 13563 of January 18, 2011, which directs agencies to review existing significant rules to make regulatory programs more effective or less burdensome in achieving regulatory objectives.

Firearms Rulemaking
Importation of Defense Articles and Defense Services - U.S. Munitions Import List (2011R-9P) Apr. 22, 2013 (62 KB)

DOJ is amending ATF regulations to remove the cross reference to the regulatory U.S. Munitions List (USML) of the Int'l Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) that appears at 27 CFR 447.21; to clarify that the Attorney General (AG) exercises delegated authority pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and Executive Order 13637 to designate defense articles and defense services as part of the  statutory USML for purposes of permanent import controls, regardless of whether the Secretary of State controls such defense articles or defense services for purposes of export and temporary import; and to clarify that defense articles and defense services controlled pursuant to the AG’s delegated AECA authority are part of the statutory USML (along with those that are controlled for export and temporary import by the Secretary of State), but that the list of defense articles and defense services controlled by the AG is labeled the USMIL to distinguish it from the list of defense articles and defense services in the ITAR that are controlled by the Secretary of State.

Firearms Rulemaking
Indiana-Dec2005-Open Letter-Procedures for Indiana FFLs Using the Revised ATF Form 4473 (54 KB)
The purpose of this letter is to clarify that the revised ATF Form 4473, Firearms Transaction Record Part I – Over The Counter, has no effect on the procedures Indiana Federal Firearms Licensees must follow in order to comply with the Brady Law. The procedures enumerated in the September 2003 Open Letter To All Indiana Firearms Licensees are still in effect.
Firearms Open Letter
Indiana-Oct1998-Firearms-Establishment of National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) (45 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. The permanent provisions of the Brady law provide for the establishment of a national instant criminal background check system (NICS) that licensees must contact before transferring any firearm to unlicensed individuals. Firearms Open Letter
Indiana-Sept2003-Open Letter-Changes to Indiana Background Check Procedures (104 KB)
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of important changes to the procedures Indiana Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) must follow beginning October 1, 2003, in order to comply with the Brady Law.  It also will advise you of the procedures you will have to follow to comply with Indiana State law.
Firearms Open Letter
Iowa-Jun2011-Open Letter-Transferring a Firearm to an Unlicensed Person Using an Iowa Permit Alternative (109 KB)
The open letter provides guidance to all Iowa Federal firearms licensees when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person using an Iowa issued permit as an alternative to a NICS background check. 
Firearms Open Letter
Iowa-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (124 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Iowa of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
Kansas-July2013-Open Letter-Passage of the Kansas Second Amendment Protection Act (58 KB)
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance and information related to the passage of the Kansas Second Amendment Protection Act, Kansas, effective April 25, 2013.
Firearms Open Letter
Kansas-May2011-Firearms-National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Requirement Exception. (110 KB)
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 when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. This open letter supersedes the document by the same title, posted on April 8, 2010.
Firearms Open Letter
Kansas-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (118 KB)

The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). On November 30, 1998, the interim provisions of the Brady law will cease to apply, and the permanent provisions of the Brady law will take effect.

Firearms Open Letter
Kentucky-July2006-Open Letter-Kentucky Carry Concealed Deadly Weapon License Qualifies as Alternative to NICS Check (36 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise you that the Kentucky Carry Concealed Deadly Weapon License (CCDWL) issued on or after July 12, 2006, will qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. Firearms Open Letter
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