Rules and Regulations Library

Title Description Category Document Type
2013-2 - NFA Electronic Forms (583 KB)
Approved alternate method or procedure for FFLs, legal entities, and government agencies to file ATF Forms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, and 10 using ATF eForms, provided all of the conditions set forth in this ruling are met.   
Firearms Ruling
2012-3 - AFMER Electronic Form (1442 KB)
Approved alternate method or procedure for licensed manufacturers to submit the Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Exportation Report (AFMER), ATF Form 5300.11, electronically using ATF eForms, provided all of the conditions set forth in this ruling are met. 
Firearms Ruling
West Virginia-Jun2014-Open Letter-West Virginia's Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHLs) as Alternative to NICS Checks (53 KB)
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance regarding the West Virginia's Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHLs) issued on or after June 4, 2014 as an alternative to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check.
Firearms Open Letter
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
West Virginia-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (84 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in West Virginia of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
Washington-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (94 KB)

The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Washington of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Firearms Open Letter
Virgin Islands-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (50 KB)


The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in the U.S. Virgin Islands of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Firearms Open Letter
South Dakota-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (44 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in South Dakota of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
Ohio-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (472 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Ohio of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
Northern Mariana Islands-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (50 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
New York-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (114 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in New York of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
Nevada-Nov1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law.pdf (124 KB)

The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Nevada of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Firearms Open Letter
Louisiana-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (474 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Louisiana of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
Kentucky-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (510 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Kentucky of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 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
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
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
Georgia-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (47 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Georgia of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
California-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (38 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in California of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 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
National-Jan2016-Presidential Memorandum (24 KB)
Tracing firearms in connection with criminal investigations and improving availability of relevant Executive Brand records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
Firearms Open Letter
December 2018 - Bump-Stock-Type-Devices - 2018R–22F (426 KB)
The Department of Justice is amending the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives regulations to clarify that “bump fire” stocks, slide-fire devices, and devices with certain similar characteristics (“bump-stock-type devices”) are “machineguns” as defined by the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) and Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), because such devices allow a shooter of a semiautomatic firearm to initiate a continuous firing cycle with a single pull of the trigger.
Rules and Regulations Rulemaking
Mississippi-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (326 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Mississippi of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
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
1975-20 - Meaning of Terms "Inhabited Building" (15 KB)
An office or repair shop used in connection with the manufacture, etc., of explosive materials are not "inhabited buildings."
Explosives Ruling
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