Rules and Regulations Library
| Title | Description | Category | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
 1974-20 - Disposition of Replacement Firearms (108 KB) | Form 4473 shall not be required to record disposition of a like replacement firearm when such firearm is delivered by a licensee to the person from whom the malfunctioning or damaged firearm was received, provided such disposition is recorded in the licensee’s permanent records. | Firearms | Ruling |
|
1974-8 - NFA Firearms for Official Use Only (68 KB) | When NFA firearms are registered on Form 10 by governmental entities, subsequent transfers of such firearms shall be made only to other governmental entities. | Firearms | Ruling |
|
2011-2 - Locking Requirements for Outdoor Type 5 Bin and Silo Magazines (85 KB) |
ATF authorizes alternate storage for explosives licensees and permittees to store bulk blasting agents in outdoor type 5 bin or silo magazines without the specified locks provided all of the requirements stated in this ruling have been met.
| Explosives | Ruling |
|
All FFLs-Nov2003-Open Letter-Procedual Guidance Regarding the Handling of ATF Form 4473 After a Firearms Transaction (1121 KB) |
This letter serves to provide Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) with procedural guidance regarding the handling of ATF From 4473, Firearms Transaction Record, after a firearm transaction has occurred.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
|
All FELs-Sept2012-Open Letter-Table of Distance Requirements (116 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to provide information regarding ATF revisiting its guidelines for the application of the tables of distances for the storage of certain explosive materials.
| Explosives | Open Letter |
|
National-Apr2012-Open Letter-Unmarked Plastic Explosives (116 KB) |
The purpose of this letter is to remind all Federal law enforcement agencies and military components of certain provisions of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 pertaining to plastic explosives that do not contain a detection agent.
| Explosives | Open Letter |
|
All FFLs-Dec2011-Open Letter-Future Amendment of Nonimmigrant Alien Provisions (67 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to inform all Federal firearms licensees that ATF is in the process of amending its regulations and forms related to nonimmigrant alien provisions of the Gun Control Act.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
|
All FFLs-Dec2011-Open Letter-State of Residence (71 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to inform all Federal firearms licensees that ATF will be revising the regulations in 27 C.F.R. Part 478 to conform to the Department of Justice's conclusions by removing the separate 90-day residency requirement for aliens.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
|
All FFLs-Nov2011-Open Letter-Recent Changes to Florida State Law (63 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance on the recent changes to Florida State law and to assist Federal firearms licensees in complying with Federal firearms laws and regulations and how they may affect Florida county ordinances that require sellers to wait five days before delivering a firearms.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
|
All FFLs-July2009-Open Letter-Selling or Delivering Firearms Frames or Receivers (104 KB) | The purpose of the this open letter is to provide guidance on certain regulatory requirements and definitions under the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) about selling or delivering firearm frames or receivers. | Firearms | Open Letter |
|
Montana-July2009-Open Letter-Guidance Regarding Montana Firearms Freedom Act (73 KB) |
The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance on your obligations as a Federal firearms licensee (FFL) and the passage of the Montana Firearms Freedom Act.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
|
Tennessee-July2009-Open Letter-Passage of the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act (74 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance on your obligations as a Federal firearms licensee (“FFL”) with respect to the the passage of the Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act that took effect on June 19, 2009.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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All FFLs-May2008-Open Letter-Procedual Guidance for Licensed and/or Registered Importers for ATF Form 6A (300 KB) | This open letter is a reminder of the procedures to follow when completing ATF Form 6A as outlined in 27 CFR 478.112 and on the instruction page of the form. | Firearms | Open Letter |
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National-Jan2008-Open Letter-Submitting Payments to ATF (88 KB) |
The purpose of this letter is to provide notification that the ATF will be switching to electronic funds processing (ECP) for all payments received by the agency.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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All FFLs-June2007-Open Letter-Post Office (P.O.) Boxes or Rural Route Numbers as a Residence Address (296 KB) | The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance regarding firearms transferees whose only identification documents indicate only Post Office Box or Rural Route number as a residence address. | Firearms | Open Letter |
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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 |
|
Tribal Law Enforcement-July2006-Open Letter-Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence (375 KB) |
This letter is to provide information to tribal law enforcement departments regarding the Omnibus Consolidation Appropriations Act of 1997. This Act made it unlawful for any person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (MCDV) to ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms or ammunitions.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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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 |
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All FFLs-July2005-Open Letter-Importation of U.S. Manufactured Surplus Military Firearms Classified as Curios or Relics (101 KB) | This Open Letter is to advise all Federal Firearms Licensees and registered importers of U.S. munitions import list articles that ATF was advised by the Department of State, on a case-by-case basis, permit the retransfer of U.S. manufacturing military firearms that were sold or granted by the United States Government classified by ATF as curios or relics. | Firearms | Open Letter |
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All FFLs-July2005-Open Letter-Department of State Rescinded Sanctions on Trade in Defense Articles and Services from South Africa (71 KB) | The purpose of this open letter is to inform licensed firearms importers and registered importers of U.S. Munitions Import List Articles that the United States Department of State has rescinded the sanctions on trade in defense articles and services from South Africa. | Firearms | Open Letter |
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2010-3 - Identification of Maxim Side-Plate Receivers (182 KB) |
The right side-plate of a Vickers/Maxim-type firearm, manufactured with its camming lobe affixed in the proper location, and without an ATF approved block that prevents installation of machinegun fire control components, is a machinegun receiver, and therefore, a machinegun as defined by the GCA and NFA. Provided it has not been disassembled into its component parts, a complete Vickers/Maxim-type machinegun that is currently registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record with its serial number located on a component part of the receiver box other than the right side-plate has been lawfully registered under the NFA and may be lawfully possessed by the registrant under 18 U.S.C. 922(o).
| Firearms | Ruling |
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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 |
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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 |
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All FFLs-Aug2011-Open Letter-Rural Route Address (138 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to provide further guidance regarding purchasers who present an identification document bearing a Rural Route address.
| Firearms | Open Letter |
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Nebraska-Apr2011-Open Letter-Nebraska’s Concealed Handgun Permit Qualifies as Alternative to NICS Check (110 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to advise that ATF has reviewed Nebraska’s Concealed Handgun Permit Act, as amended in 2010 by Legislative Bill 817, and has determined that Nebraska’s Concealed Handgun Permit does qualify as an alternative to the background check required by the Brady law.
| Firearms | Open Letter |