Rules and Regulations Library

Titlesort descending Description Category Document Type
New Mexico-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (84 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in New Mexico of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
New York-May2006-Open Letter-New York's License to Carry and Possess Handguns No Longer Qualifies as Alternative to NICS Check (91 KB)
The purpose of this letter is to advise New York Federal firearms licensees that the New York license to carry and possess handguns  no longer qualifies as an alternative to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. 
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
North Carolina-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law.pdf (713 KB) October 1991 Open Letter to all FFL's regarding Brady Law. Firearms Open Letter
North Dakota-Apr2000-Open Letter-Correction Notice-Qualifying Permit Alternatives to NICS Check (103 KB)
The provisions of North Dakota law regarding the issuance of concealed weapons permits were recently amended.  Based on these changes, concealed weapons permits issued on or after December 1, 1999, will now qualify as alternatives to a NICS check at the time of transfer.
Firearms Open Letter
North Dakota-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (45 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in North Dakota 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
Northern Mariana Islands-Oct2005-Open Letter-Northern Mariana Island Weapons Identification (39 KB)
This open letter informs Northern Mariana Island Federal firearms licensees that beginning October 19, 2005, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island Weapons Identification Card Permits no longer qualifies as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check.
Firearms Open Letter
Northrop Grumman Granting Relief of Disabilities (2011R-13T) (45 KB)

Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc. (NGGECI) (formerly Litton Systems, Inc.), a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC), has been granted relief from the disabilities imposed by Federal laws by the Director of ATF with respect to the acquisition, transfer, receipt, shipment, or possession of firearms.

Firearms General Notice
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
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
Oklahoma-Jun2023-OpenLetter-SDALicense (188 KB)

The purpose of this open letter is to advise you that the Oklahoma Self Defense Act Handgun License (SDA Handgun License) issued on or after November 1, 2021, meets the requirements as an alternative to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check — but only in Oklahoma during the five-year period beginning on the date of issuance of the SDA Handgun License.

Firearms Open Letter
Oklahoma-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (826 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Oklahoma of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
Open Letter Federal Firearms Licensees Ready Ability (238 KB)

The purpose of this open letter is to remind all Federal firearms licensees (FFL) of their ready ability to enhance public safety and assist law enforcement by encouraging and facilitating transfers of firearms between private individuals through their businesses.

Firearms Open Letter
Oregon-Dec2000-Open Letter-Notice of Amendment for All Oregon Firearms Background Checks (101 KB)
The provision of Oregon State law regarding all firearms background checks was recently amended. Effective December 8, 2000, the Oregon State Police will act as the point of contact for all firearms background checks (handguns and long guns).
Firearms Open Letter
Oregon-Nov1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (914 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Oregon of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
Pennsylvania-Dec2005-Open Letter-Private Transfers of Firearms and Using NICS or the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) (37 KB)
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has received questions from firearms dealers in Pennsylvania concerning the use of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)/Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) to do background checks of people who are acquiring firearms from other nonlicensees in what are commonly called “private transfers.”
Firearms Open Letter
Pennsylvania-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (780 KB) The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Pennsylvania of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. Firearms Open Letter
Public Advisory to All Michigan FFLs 03-03-20 (567 KB)

The purpose of this public safety advisory is to advise all Michigan federal firearms licensees (FFLs) of an important change to the procedure they must follow to comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady law), 18 U.S.C. § 922(t), when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person.

Firearms Open Letter
Public Safety Advisory - Consumer Fireworks - June 2023 (211 KB)

Public Safety Advisory - Consumer Fireworks, June 2023

Explosives Public Advisory
Puerto Rico-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (69 KB) Open Letter to All FFL's regarding Brady Law. Firearms Open Letter
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
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
Residency Requirements for Aliens Acquiring Firearms (2011R-23P) (72 KB)

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) by removing the 90-day State residency requirement for aliens lawfully present in the United States to purchase  or acquire a firearm. The Department has determined that the Gun Control Act does not permit ATF to impose a regulatory requirement that aliens lawfully present in the United States are subject to a 90-day State residency requirement when such a requirement is not applicable to U.S. citizens. In addition, upon the effective date of this interim final rule the provisions of ATF Ruling 2004–1 will become obsolete.

Firearms Rulemaking
Rev. Rul. 54-181 Classification of certain weapons as any other weapon (318 KB)

This ruling advises that certain weapons fall within the definition of an “any other weapon” within the purview of the Federal Firearms Act.

Firearms Ruling
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