Rules and Regulations Library
| Title | Description | Category | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
 2001-5 - Identification of Transferee (18 KB) | 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. | Firearms | Ruling |
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1997-2 - Semiautomatic Firearms Resembing the Browning 1919A-4 and A-6 Machineguns (16 KB) |
Whether a 1919 A-4 semiautomatic firearm and 1919 A-6 semiautomatic rifle are "portable" firearms subject to tax when sold by their importer or manufacturer pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 4181. | Firearms | Ruling |
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All FFLs-Aug2010-Open Letter-Acquisition and Disposition Records Maintained by Licensed Importers (97 KB) |
This open letter contains information about a recent clarification on the “date of importation” required to be recorded in a licensed importer’s record of acquisition, often referred to as the “bound book.”
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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National-Apr2011-Open Letter-Submitting ATF Form 4 or Form 5 (94 KB) |
The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance to any person submitting ATF Form 4, Application for Tax Paid Transfer and Registration of a Firearm, or with ATF Form 5, Application for Tax Exempt Transfer and Registration of a Firearm.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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Wyoming-May2010-Firearms-ATF Guidance Regarding Wyoming Firearms Freedom Act (90 KB) | The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance on your obligations as a Federal Firearms Licensee. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) is providing you with the following information, intended to assist you in complying with Title 18 United States Code, Chapter 44. | Resource Center | Open Letter |
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All FFLs-Jan2009-Open Letter-Availability of 2007 - 28th Edition State Laws and Published Ordinances (ATF P 5300.5) (97 KB) |
The purpose of this Open Letter is to make you aware of the availability of the 2007, 28th Edition State Laws and Published Ordinances - Firearms (ATF P 5300.5). This publication is now being distributed in a CD-ROM version.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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All FFLs-Aug2008-Open Letter-Guidelines for Natural Disasters (121 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to provide you guidance on certain regulatory requirements and voluntary security measures, as well as recommended guidelines for securing and moving firearms records and inventory in the event of a natural disaster.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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All FFLs-Aug2008-Open Letter-Clarification for FFLs on Obtaining a Marking Variance (115 KB) |
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of an important clarification to the manner in which a Federal Firearms License holder can obtain a marking variance from the provisions of 27 CFR § 478.92.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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South Carolina-Aug2008-Open Letter-Amendment to South Carolina Law Prohibiting Handgun Sales to Persons Under Eighteen Years of Age (104 KB) |
The purpose of this letter is to advise you that the recent amendment to Section 16-23-30, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the unlawful sale of handguns to certain person, so as to prohibit the sale of a handgun to persons under eighteen years of age rather than under twenty-one years of age has no effect on Federal firearms laws and regulations.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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All FFLs-May2008-Open Letter-Security Firms Temporarily Assigning Firearms to Unlicensed Employees (96 KB) | The purpose of this open letter is to inform security firms and other persons who have Federal firearms licenses (FFLs), and who may temporarily assign firearms to their unlicensed employees in furtherance of legitimate business purposes, of the statutory and regulatory requirements that affect them. | Firearms | Open Letter |
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Nevada-May2008-Open Letter-Nevada’s Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) Permits No Longer Qualify as an Alternative to a NICS check (93 KB) |
The purpose of this letter is to advise you that beginning July 1, 2008, Nevada’s Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) permits will no longer qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. | Firearms | Open Letter |
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Illinois-May2008-Open Letter-Illinois Firearms Owner Identification (FOID) Cards No Longer Qualify as an (114 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 |
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All FFLs-May2007-Open Letter-Guidelines for Natural Disasters (136 KB) | This open letter provides guidance on certain regulatory requirements and voluntary security measures, as well as recommended guidelines for securing and moving firearms records and inventory in the event of a natural disaster. | Firearms | Open Letter |
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All FFLs-May2007-Open Letter-Virginia Tech Tragic Events (91 KB) | We at ATF were saddened by the tragic events that unfolded at Virginia Tech just last month. In the immediate aftermath, many questions arose about whether the person responsible for the shootings was prohibited under Federal law from possessing a firearm. | Firearms | Open Letter |
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All States' Attorney General-May2007-Open Letter-Adjudicated as a Mental Defective (108 KB) |
This open letter is to all States' Attorney General and focuses on working with each State in taking steps to identfy person who are prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of their mental health history.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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All FFLs-Oct2007-Open Letter-Availability of the Personal Firearms Record, ATF Form 3312.8 (86 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to make you aware of the availability of ATF Publication 3312.8, Personal Firearms Record. This record is to help firearms owners adequately identify their firearms in case of a theft or loss.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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Massachusetts-Oct2003-Open Letter-Massachusetts License to Carry No Longer an Alternative to NICS Check (79 KB) |
This open letter is to inform all Massachusetts Federal firearms licensees that as of October 21, 2003 all previously grandfathered Massachusetts licenses to carry will have expired.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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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 |
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ATF 20P (221 KB) |
Importation of Defense Articles and Defense Services-U.S. Munitions Import Lists (2011R-20P) - The Department of Justice is amending Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regulations to remove the cross reference to the regulatory United States Munitions List (USML) of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) that appears at 27 CFR 447.21; to clarify that the Attorney General 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 SML 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 Attorney General’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 Attorney General 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. | Rules and Regulations | Rulemaking |
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Transfer of Ethics (2013R-4F) (206 KB) |
The Department of Justice (DOJ), with the concurrence of the Office of Government Ethics, is amending its Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Department of Justice Supplemental Standards) to incorporate existing rules for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) employees that had initially been adopted by the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms was within Treasury. | Resource Center | Rulemaking |
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2004-2 - Temporary Importation of Firearms Subject to the NFA (351 KB) | Approved alternate method or procedure for importers to use when temporarily importing firearms subject to the NFA, the GCA and the Arms Export Control Act for inspection, testing, calibration, repair, or incorporation into another defense article. | Firearms | Ruling |
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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 |
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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 |
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2005-3 - Meaning of Term Inhabited Building (17 KB) |
ATF provides guidance on two situations involving structures and whether they are "inhabited buildings" as defined in 27 CFR Part 555.
| Explosives | Ruling |
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2005-2 - Meaning of Term Highway (12 KB) |
ATF provides guidance on three different private roads and whether they are "highways" as defined in 27 CFR 555.11.
| Explosives | Ruling |