Rules and Regulations Library

Titlesort ascending Description Category Document Type
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
Louisiana-Jun2021-Open Letter-Lifetime Permit (287 KB)

The purpose of this open letter is to advise you that the Louisiana Lifetime Concealed Handgun Permit meets the requirements as an alternative to the NICS check only during the five-year period beginning on the date of issuance of the Lifetime Permit.

Firearms Open Letter
Louisiana-Apr2015-Open Letter-Louisiana's Concealed Handgun Permit Qualifies as Alternative to to NICS Check (473 KB)
The purpose of this open letter is to advise all Louisiana Federal firearms licensees that Louisiana's concealed handgun permit has been determined to qualify as an alternative to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. 
Firearms Open Letter
List of Explosives Materials - 2014 (55 KB)

Notice of List of Explosive Materials

Explosives General Notice
List of Explosive Materials - 2015 (174 KB) Notice of List of Explosive Materials Explosives General Notice
List of Explosive Materials - 2013 (54 KB) Notice of List of Explosive Materials. One addition: Black powder substitutes Explosives General Notice
List of Explosive Materials - 2009 (60 KB) Notice of List of Explosive Materials.  Removes ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP) Explosives General Notice
List of Explosive Materials - 2003 (54 KB) Notice of List of Explosive Materials. Two additions: Tetrazole explosives, and Ammonium perchlorate having particle size less than 15 microns. Explosives General Notice
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
Kentucky-May-2015-Open Letter-Guidance on Alternative Permit Procedures that Comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act (63 KB)
The purpose of this letter is to provide clarification and guidance on alternative permit procedures that comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act (Brady law) for firearms transfers to unlicensed persons in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This open letter supersedes the 2006 Open Letter to All Kentucky Federal Firearms Licensees with respect to alternatives to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) background check.
Firearms Open Letter
Kentucky-Jun2007-Open Letter-Amendment to What was Formerly Known as Kentucky’s Contiguous State Law (250 KB)
The purpose of this open letter is to advise that the recent amendment to what was formerly known as Kentucky’s contiguous state law has no effect on Federal firearms laws and regulations.
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
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
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-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
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
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
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
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-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
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
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 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 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 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
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