Publications Library
ATF occasionally issues publications to inform the industries it regulates and the general public about the laws and regulations administered and enforced by ATF. These include guidebooks, newsletters, brochures, studies, and reports.
| Title | Description | Category | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
 Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - August 2004 (117 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: Attorney General Ashcroft Appoints Carl J. Truscott As Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms And Explosives; Contiguous State – Part 2; New Tennessee “Certificate For Driving” Is Not An Acceptable Identification Document; Sales To Military Personnel –Residency Verification; FFL EZ Check System; Retention Period For Importer And Manufacturer Records; Is An Expired Driver’s License A Valid Identification Document?; Transportation Of Firearms; Possession Of Handguns By Persons Who Are Under 21 Years Of Age; 5-Year Period For “Grandfathered” Permits Ends; Firearms Transfers After The Mandatory 3-Business Day Waiting Period Has Elapsed And No Response Has Been Received From NICS; 90-Day Residency Requirement For The Purchase Of Firearms By Nonimmigrant Aliens; Reorganization Of Title 27, Code Of Federal Regulations; What Is A Letter Of Continuing Authorization?; (Sample Letter Of Authorization); Activities Authorized By Licensed Collectors Of Curio Or Relic Firearms; Possible Confusion Regarding How To Import Surplus Military Firearms Or Nonsporting Firearms For Law Enforcement Officers; New Firearms Theft/Loss Reporting Form; FBI/NICS | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter-February 2005 (92 KB) | INFORMATION ON NEW ATF FORM 4473; SALES OF FIREARMS TO LICENSED COLLECTORS OF CURIOS AND RELICS; NICS E-CHECK TRANSFER PROCESS; 2005 PRESIDENTS’ DAY WEEKEND 24-HOUR OUTAGE; MUZZLE LOADING FIREARMS; PROVIDING A PROSPECTIVE TRANSFEREE THE NICS TRANSACTION NUMBER (NTN); ARREST MADE IN MURDER OF INKSTER GUN DEALER; SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPON (SAW) BAN; IMPORTATION; RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS; ASSEMBLY OF NON-SPORTING SHOTGUNS AND SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLES FROM IMPORTED PARTS; NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT; LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS; EFFECT ON STATE LAW; FBI/NICS | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter-August 2005 (978 KB) | What’s In This Issue: CERTIFIED FAXED COPIES OF LICENSES; HOW TO REPORT THE THEFT OR LOSS OF A FIREARM; NATIVE AMERICAN IDENTIFICATION CARDS; TEEN GETS LIFE IN PRISON IN MURDER OF INKSTER GUN DEALER; INTERNET SALES OF FIREARMS; FIVE INDICTED ON FIREARMS TRAFFICKING AND DRUG CHARGES; DEALERS IN BLACK POWDER; NON IMMIGRANT ALIENS AND NICS ALTERNATIVE PERMIT; FBI/NICS | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - March 2006 (182 KB) | What’s In This Issue: REVISED ATF FORM 4473 (FIREARMS TRANSACTION RECORD); CHILD SAFETY LOCK ACT OF 2005; NEW ATF PROGRAM IMPACTS THE NATION’S VIOLENT CRIME RATES; NEW FEDERAL FIREARMS REGULATIONS REFERENCE GUIDE; IMPORTATION OF DUAL USE FIREARM BARRELS; RESPONSIBLE PERSONS LISTED ON THE FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSE; REPORTING THEFT OR LOSS OF FIREARMS; LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS; ONLINE LEARNING THEATER AVAILABLE TO ALL FFLS; READERS NOTE; FBI/NICS | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - January 2007 (7709 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: Federal Firearms License Enhancement; Scanned or emailed copies of federal Firearms Licenses; New email Service Available to Federal Firearms Licensees; Violent Crime Impact teams Stop Criminals From Unlawfully Engaging in the Business of Dealing in Firearms; Changes and Improvements to eZ Check; Requirements of Pawn Dealers Performing a Pre-Pawn NICS Check; Results from FY-05 firearms Compliance Inspections; ATF Requirement to Update Licensee Contact Information; ATF Form 4473 Completion and NICS Check; FBI/NICS News | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - November 2008 (493 KB) | What’s In This Issue: SALE OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION TO ALIENS; TRIBAL IDENTIFICATION DOES NOT MEET BRADY LAW REQUIREMENTS; CHANGE IN BUSINESS STRUCTURE THAT REQUIRES A NEW LICENSE; TRANSFER OF A NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT FIREARM TO A CORPORATION OR OTHER LEGAL ENTITY; AVAILABILITY OF ATF PUBLICATION 3312.8 PERSONAL FIREARMS RECORD; ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE WITH THE GUN CONTROL ACT; CLARIFICATION ON MULTIPLE SALES REPORTS; NONLICENSEE STATE-TO-STATE TRANSFER; CUSTOMER SERVICE ENHANCEMENTSAT THE FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSING CENTER; TRANSACTIONS IN EXPLOSIVE-TYPE DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES; FBI/NICS News | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter-November 2009 (406 KB) | What’s In This Issue: Protecting America; ATF Strives to Improve Customer Service Through Online Notification; Pistol Grips and Shotguns; Improving Firearms Security; Here Are Some Reminders for Completing ATF Form 4473; FFL Newsletter Questions; NFA Forms and Their Use; Clarification on Submission of Multiple Handgun Sale Forms: ATF Encourages Support of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC); FBI/NICS News | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter June 2010 (1195 KB) | What’s In This Issue: New Appointments in Enforcement Programs and Services–Assistant Director and Deputy Assistant Director; eTrace Claims Of Illegal Gun Owner Registration; Valid Identification Document; Internet Sales; ATF I 5300.2, Youth Handgun Safety Act Notice; State Firearms Freedom Acts; Gun Show Guidelines; ATF Form 6 Import Applications; FBI/NICS News | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter February 2011 (645 KB) | What’s In This Issue: SHOT Show 2011; Important Notice to Dealers and Other Participants at This Gun Show, ATF I 5300.23a; Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Exportation Report; Study on the Importability of Certain Shotguns; Contiguous State; Hunting Licenses Used as Government Identification; FFL eZ Check: Collectors; Changes in Legal Entity; Special Characters in Serial Numbers; Purchase of Firearms by Organizations; Sole Proprietors and Logging Personal Firearms In/Out of the A&D Records; National Firearms Act: Restrictions Stamped on an NFA Form; FBI/NICS News | Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter September 2011 (727 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: Adjudicated “Mentally Defective”; Prohibited Persons and Restoration of Gun Rights Serial Numbers; FBI Flyer: Potential Indicators of Terrorist Activities Related to Firearms Shops and Ranges; Marking of Conversion Devices by Manufacturers; Prohibition on Obliterating, Removing or Changing the Markings on an NFA Firearm; Address for Reports of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Pistols and Revolvers Address; Transferring Firearms from One A&D Record to Another; C&R Licensees: Out-of-Business; Requirements; Are You Moving?; Most Recent Open Letters; On-Site Responsible Persons; Guidance to FFLs Affected by Flooding and Other Natural Disasters; Looking for Past Newsletters?
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - November 2012 (1254 KB) |
What's in this issue: Customer Service Standards; Reminder: Top 10 Frequently Asked Firearms Questions and Answers; Receive Firearms Industry News; Electronic Devices Used to Verify Change of Address; Government Issued Documents Bearing an Incorrect Zip Code; PCS Orders and Military Dependents Purchasing Firearms; Licensed Manufacturer's Registration Requirement with the Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Control (DDTC); Guidance to FFLs Affected by Flooding and Other Natural Disasters; Ethnicity and Race on the ATF Form 4473; Firearms Shipments via Common or Contract Carrier; Out-of-Business Procedures; Out-of-Business with Succession; Residence as a Licensed Business Premises; New Move in EPS; Who to Contact with your Firearms Related Questions; FBI NICS News
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 2 (354 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: The Director's Column; Curios, Relics Classification Expanded; Stolen Guns Threaten Everyone; News You Can Use
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 1 (343 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: A MESSAGE TO THE FFL from Stephen Higgins Director of ATF; Firearms License Streamlined; FIREARMS SEMINARS LOOK LIKE A HIT; .22 Caliber Rimfire Ammunition Records Eliminated; Black Powder Form Eliminated; Three Firearms Defined As Machineguns; NEW ORGANIZATION OFFICE OF REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT; ATF SPOTLIGHTS; ATF REORGANIZATION
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 2 (246 KB) |
What’s In This Issue: GUN SHOWS REVISITED; Armed Forces Dual Residency Clarified; YAC STEN MK II Carbine Classified as Machinegun; Remember--It's A Three- Year License Now; Licensee Q's and A's; Court Decisions
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - May 2012 (241 KB) |
What’s in This Issue: Customer Service Standards; SHOT Show 2012; Multiple Trade Name Policy; Hunting Licenses Issued by Retailers; Binary Exploding Targets; Completion of Section A of ATF Form 4473 Out-of-State Driver’s License Used as an Identification Document; REAL ID Act of 2005; Recording Firearms in the Acquisition and Disposition Record; Guide to Requesting Marking Variances; Firearms Commerce in the United States 2011; Looking for Past Newsletters?; FBI NICS Information
| Firearms | Newsletter |
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National Tracing Center – Information for Industry Members (ATF P 3312.10) (314 KB) |
This is an informational pamphlet for Federal firearms licensees (FFL) to provide you information about ATF's Out-of-Business Records Center, the Multiple Sales forms, and reporting theft or loss of firearms from inventory.
| Firearms | Guide |
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National Tracing Center – Information for Law Enforcement Agencies (ATF P 3312.7) (200 KB) |
What is the National Tracing Center Division (NTC)? The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) National Tracing Center Division (NTC) is the only organization authorized to trace U.S. and foreign manufactured firearms for international, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
| Firearms | Guide |
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Personal Firearms Record (ATF P 3312.8) (361 KB) |
By completing this record and maintaining it in a safe location, separate from your firearms, you will be taking an important first step in the effort to prevent thefts and to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals. | Firearms | Guide |
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Safety and Security Information for Federal Firearms Licensees (ATF P 3317.2) (1809 KB) |
This booklet provides safety and security information for federal firearms licensees (FFL) and their businesses. In this booklet you will find information pertaining to ATF's stolen firearms program, steps for reducing your vulnerability to theft or loss, properly identifying and recording firearms information, recording suspicious person descriptions and how to report a theft or loss of firearms inventory. | Firearms | Guide |
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Procedures for Requesting Computerized Bookkeeping Variance (41 KB) | This document provides information regarding the procedure for requesting a computerized bookkeeping variance. | Firearms | Guide |
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Silencer Destruction Diagram (408 KB) |
To meet the requirement for removal from GCA and NFA provisions, ATF has previously explained that acceptable methods of destruction include completely melting, shredding, or crushing the firearm silencer. View more information on how to properly destroy a silencer. | Firearms | Guide |
 AFMER 2020 Final Web Report (398 KB) |
Excel spreadsheet with final 2020 AFMER report data. | Firearms | Report |
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January 2022 - Firearms Compliance Inspection Results (13 KB) |
January 2022 compliance inspection results. | Firearms | Report |
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inspection_results_worksheet_december_2021.xlsx (13 KB) |
Firearms Compliance Inspection Statistics December 2021 | Firearms | Report |
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Safety and Security for Firearm Owners (ATF P 5300.22) (1352 KB) |
The purpose of firearm safety is to eliminate or minimize the risks of unintentional damage, injury or death caused by improper possession, storage, or handling of a firearm. Firearm owners should handle the firearm safely and protect themselves and the public from the theft, loss or misuse of their firearm.
| Firearms | Guide |