Firearms
The Bureau and Law Enforcement
ATF recognizes the role that firearms play in violent crimes and pursues an integrated regulatory and enforcement strategy. Investigative priorities focus on armed violent offenders and career criminals, narcotics traffickers, narco-terrorists, violent gangs, and domestic and international arms traffickers. Sections 924(c) and (e) of Title 18 of the United States Code provide mandatory and enhanced sentencing guidelines for armed career criminals and narcotics traffickers as well as other dangerous armed criminals.
ATF uses these statutes to target, investigate and recommend prosecution of these offenders to reduce the level of violent crime and to enhance public safety. ATF also strives to increase State and local awareness of available Federal prosecution under these statutes. To curb the illegal use of firearms and enforce the Federal firearms laws, ATF issues firearms licenses and conducts firearms licensee qualification and compliance inspections. In addition to aiding the enforcement of Federal requirements for gun purchases, compliance inspections of existing licensees focus on assisting law enforcement to identify and apprehend criminals who illegally purchase firearms.
The inspections also help improve the likelihood that crime gun traces will be successful, since industry operations investigators educate licensees in proper record keeping and business practices.
Federal Firearms Licensees
ATF is proud to announce a new Senior Industry Partnership Advisor. This position is designed to support and enhance ATF’s relationships with the regulated industries, industry associations, and their representatives by providing technical expertise and to help develop and maintain effective, sustainable relationships with the regulated industries. This liaison will be the agency point-of-contact for the regulated industry, associations, and their representatives, helping to clarify obscure issues and provide expert advisory and counseling services on regulatory matters by responding directly to letters, internet inquiries, phone calls and emails. If members of the regulated industries, industry associations, and their representatives have questions for the new liaison, please email industryliaison@atf.gov(link sends e-mail).
The Tools and Services for Licensees section contains information for the firearms industry and its members, classifications of firearms and the interpretation of the regulations codified under 27 CFR, Parts 447, 478 and 479.
If you need assistance regarding firearms enforcement-related issues, please contact your local ATF office.
National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Firearms in Commerce - Volume One
The National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment is a comprehensive report on firearms commerce and trafficking. This volume presents and analyzes data collected by ATF and other federal agencies related to the manufacture, exportation, and importation of firearms.
Download the NFCTA - Volume One
National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Crime Gun Intelligence and Analysis - Volume Two
The National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment is a comprehensive report on firearms commerce and trafficking. This volume presents and analyzes data on “crime guns”, that is firearms diverted from lawful commerce and recovered by law enforcement in criminal investigations.
Download the NFCTA - Volume Two
National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Firearms Trafficking Investigations - Volume Three
The National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment is a comprehensive report on firearms commerce and trafficking. This volume presents and analyzes data on ATF firearm trafficking investigations initiated between 2017 and 2021. For purposes of this study, ATF firearm trafficking investigations were defined as cases that involved “the movement of one or more firearms into the illegal market for a criminal purpose.
National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA): Protecting America from Trafficked Firearms - Volume Four
The National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment is a comprehensive report on firearms commerce and trafficking. This report represents the fourth volume produced by the NFCTA initiative and provides updates to key research findings presented in earlier reports and presents new insights on topics including firearm trafficking along the southwestern border of the U.S. and firearms recovered in crime that were sourced from U.S. law enforcement agencies (LEAs).
What's New
Feb. 10, 2025: Rare Breed Triggers’ FRT-15s and Wide-Open Triggers (WOTs) Return
Jan. 7, 2025: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection; eComments Requested: Revision of a Previously Approved Collection: Forensic Firearm Training Request for Non-ATF Employees—ATF Form 7110.15 | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Comment Period: Jan. 7, 2025 - March 10, 2025
Current Processing Times for ATF Applications (Paper and eForms)
