Rules and Regulations Library
| Title | Description | Category | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
 Delegation Order - Authority to Make Determination on Notices of Clearance, Letters of Clearance, Letters of Denial, and Appeals of Letters of Denial Under 18 U.S.C. 843(h) Jun. 6, 2003 (94 KB) |
This order delegates certain authorities of the Director to subordinate Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) officials to make determinations on Notices of Clearance, Letters of Clearance, Letters of Denial, and Appeals of Letters of Denial under 18 U.S.C. 843(h) for responsible persons and employee possessors listed on explosives licenses and permits. | Resource Center | General Notice |
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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 |
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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 |
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Commerce in Explosives (107 KB) |
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking, in part, pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) which requires an agency to review within ten years of publication, rules for which an agency prepared a final regulatory flexibility analysis addressing the impact of the rule on small businesses or other small entities. Based on comments we have received in response to the RFA analysis, this document proposes amendments to the explosives regulations relating to fireworks. | Explosives | Rulemaking |
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Reorganization of Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations (132 KB) |
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 divides the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Department of the Treasury, into two separate agencies, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in the Department of Justice, and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) in the Department of the Treasury. These changes require reorganization of title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This final rule renames chapter I, establishes a new chapter II in 27 CFR, and removes certain regulations from chapter I and recodifies them in the new chapter II. | Resource Center | Rulemaking |
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Explosive Pest Control Devices (2002R-285P) (49 KB) |
Based, in part, on a petition we have received, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is proposing to amend the regulations to provide a limited exemption from the requirements of part 55 for individuals having a legitimate need to use explosive pest control devices for wildlife management purposes. The proposed regulations are intended to facilitate the acquisition of these devices by those individuals who have a legitimate pest control need. | Explosives | Rulemaking |
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Armor Piercing Ammunition (98 KB) |
To protect the lives and safety of law enforcement officers from the threat posed by ammunition capable of penetrating a protective vest when fired from a handgun, the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), as amended, prohibits the import, manufacture, and distribution of "armor piercing ammunition" as defined by the statute. Interpreting the meaning of this statutory language, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has developed a framework that will apply to requests seeking a determination that certain projectiles qualify for this "sporting purpose" exemption. | Firearms | General Notice |
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puerto-rico-oct1998-openletter-permanent_provisions_of_the_brady_law.pdf (69 KB) | Open Letter to All FFL's regarding Brady Law. | Firearms | Open Letter |
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Commerce in Firearms and Ammunition-Reporting Theft or Loss of Firearms in Transit (2007R-9P) (269 KB) | 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 ATF and to the appropriate local authorities within 48 hours of discovery. | Firearms | Rulemaking |
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Final Rule – Machineguns, Destructive Devices and Certain Other Firearms; Background Checks for Responsible Persons of a Trust or Legal Entity With Respect to Making or Transferring a Firearm (625 KB) |
The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the ATF regarding the making or transferring of a firearm under the National Firearms Act. This final rule standardizes the requirements by ensuring that responsible persons for a trust or legal entity are subject to the same identification and background check requirements as individuals. To lessen potential compliance burdens for the public and law enforcement, this final rule eliminates the requirement for a certification signed by the chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) and instead requires CLEO notification. The final rule also clarifies the definition “responsible person” for a trust or legal entity to address concerns about the definition’s scope while maintaining the important objective of ensuring background checks for relevant parties associated with a trust or legal entity. | Firearms | Rulemaking |
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ffl_type_by_state_02102016.pdf (35 KB) | Report of Active Firearms Licenses - License by State Statistics - February 10, 2016 | Firearms | General Notice |
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List of Explosive Materials - 2015 (174 KB) | Notice of List of Explosive Materials | Explosives | General Notice |
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2016-1- Requirements to Keep Firearms Records Electronically (157 KB) | Approved alternate method or procedure for licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, and licensed collectors to maintain their firearms acquisition and disposition records electronically instead of in paper format provided the conditions set forth in this ruling are met. Supersedes ATF Ruling 2013-5. | Firearms | Ruling |
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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 |
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2016-3 – Consolidation of Records Required for Manufacturers (143 KB) |
Approved alternate method or procedure for licensed firearms manufacturers to consolidate their records of manufacture or other acquisition of firearms with their separate firearms disposition records, provided all of the conditions in this ruling are met. Supersedes Ruling 2010-8.
| Firearms | Ruling |
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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 |
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Ohio-May2016-Open Letter-Ohio's Concealed Handgun License Qualifies as Alternative to Background Check Requirement (63 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to advise all Ohio FFLs that Ohio's concealed handgun license qualifies as an alternative to the background check requirement.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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National-May 2016-Open Letter-All Chief Law Enforcement Officers of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies (80 KB) |
On January 15, 2016, ATF published in the Federal Register a final rule entitled “Machineguns, Destructive Devices and Certain Other Firearms; Background Checks for Responsible Persons of a Trust or Legal Entity with Respect to Making or Transferring a Firearm.” This final rule is effective on July 13, 2016, and amends the regulations governing the making and transfer of firearms regulated by the National Firearms Act.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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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 |
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Recordkeeping Regulations - Technical Amendment to 27 CFR 478.125 (54 KB) | This final rule makes technical amendments to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regulations in title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) pertaining to certain firearms recordkeeping requirements in 27 CFR 478.125 and 478.125a to provide clarity and enhance uniformity. The technical changes are being made in the wording of three tables to reflect the same wording in the body of the regulations associated with the tables regarding the required description of firearms for recordkeeping purposes | Rules and Regulations | Rulemaking |
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West Virginia-Jun2016-Open Letter - To All West Virginia FFLs regarding HB4145 (45 KB) | The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance concerning West Virginia House Bill (HB) 4145 as it concerns the provisional licenses made eligible to West Virginia residents aged 18-20. | Firearms | Open Letter |
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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 |
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2016-5 – Marking Variance for Government Defense Contractors (67 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 |
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South Dakota-Feb2017-Open Letter-South Dakota's Gold Card Concealed Pistol Permit and Enhanced Permit to Carry a Concealed Pistol (34 KB) |
The purpose of this letter is to advise South Dakota Federal Firearms Licensees regarding ATF's determination of the South Dakota’s Gold Card Concealed Pistol Permit and Enhanced Permit to Carry a Concealed Pistol as alternatives to the background check.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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ATF Procedure 2017-1 - Facilitating Non-FFL Transfers of Firearms (74 KB) |
The purpose of this Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) procedure is to set forth the recordkeeping and National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) procedures for a Federal firearms licensee (FFL) who facilitates the transfer of firearms between private unlicensed individuals. This procedure does not apply to pawn transactions, consignment sales, or repairs. Supersedes 2013-1 Procedure.
| Firearms | Ruling |