Firearms Open Letters
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Description |
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 Alabama-July2019-Public Safety Advisory-Alabama Federal firearms licensees transferring firearms (310.89 KB) |
The purpose of this public safety advisory is to notify you of an important change to the procedure you may follow to comply with the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act (Brady Act), codified at 18 U.S.C. § 922(t), when transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. |
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Alabama-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (44.54 KB) | The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Alabama of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. |
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Alaska-Jun2012-Open Letter-Identification Showing Residence is Neither a Street Address or Rural Route and Box Number (99.27 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance to Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) in Alaska regarding firearms transferees whose government issued identification documents indicate a residence address that is neither a street address nor a rural route and box number address.
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Alaska-Oct1998-Open Letter-Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law (49 KB) | The purpose of this letter is to advise Federal firearms licensees in Alaska of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. |
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Alaska-Oct2005-Open Letter-Alaska Concealed Handgun Permits Marked "NICS Exempt" Qualify as NICS Check Alternative (38.9 KB) |
This open letter informs Alaska Federal firearms licensees that beginning October 19, 2005, only Alaska Concealed Handgun Permits marked “NICS EXEMPT” will qualify as an alternative to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check.
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All FFLs - Jan 2023 - Open Letter - Machinegun Dealer Sales Sample Letters (218.29 KB) |
Open letter to the Federal firearms licensee (FFL) community to advise on the restrictions and parameters of 18 U.S.C. § 922(o), which generally prohibits the possession or transfer of machineguns imported or manufactured after May 19, 1986, with limited exceptions. |
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All FFLs - July 2023 - Open Letter - Safe Storage (205.12 KB) |
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) is issuing this open letter to assist Federal Firearms Licensees (“FFLs”) in understanding their obligations when they choose to provide firearm storage services to their customers and the public. |
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All FFLS - October 2024 - Open Letter - Allowable Activities for Firearms Brought into Customs Bonded Warehouses and Foreign Trade Zones (327.49 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to remind affected persons of the Gun Control Act (GCA), National Firearms Act (NFA), and Arms Export Control Act (AECA), and associated federal regulations as they apply to firearms brought into Customs Bonded Warehouses (CBWs) and Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) |
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All FFLs-Apr2001-Open Letter-End of Registration Period for Streetsweeper, Striker-12, and USAS-12 Shotguns (87.53 KB) |
On February 9, 2001, ATF published a ruling that establishes a final deadline and ends the registration period for individuals who are currently in possession of the Streetsweeper, Striker-12, and the USAS-12 shotguns. The registration period for these shotguns will expire on May 1, 2001.
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All FFLs-Apr2006-Open Letter-Child Safety Lock Act of 2005 (31.25 KB) |
This open letter serves to notify Federal firearms licensees that the Child Safety Lock Act of 2005 makes it generally unlawful for “any licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer to sell, deliver, or transfer any handgun to any person, other than another licensee, unless the transferee (buyer) is provided with a secure gun storage or safety device for that handgun.”
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All FFLs-Aug2005-Open Letter-Extension of Time to Effect Importation of Approved Permits for Frames, Receivers or Barrels (33.62 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to provide important updated information to importers concerning the lawful importation of certain frames, receivers and barrels.
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All FFLs-Aug2008-Open Letter-Clarification for FFLs on Obtaining a Marking Variance (121.73 KB) |
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of an important clarification to the manner in which a Federal Firearms License holder can obtain a marking variance from the provisions of 27 CFR § 478.92.
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All FFLs-Aug2008-Open Letter-Guidelines for Natural Disasters (120.31 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to provide you guidance on certain regulatory requirements and voluntary security measures, as well as recommended guidelines for securing and moving firearms records and inventory in the event of a natural disaster.
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All FFLs-Aug2010-Open Letter-Acquisition and Disposition Records Maintained by Licensed Importers (100.87 KB) |
This open letter contains information about a recent clarification on the “date of importation” required to be recorded in a licensed importer’s record of acquisition, often referred to as the “bound book.”
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All FFLs-Aug2011-Open Letter-Rural Route Address (137.78 KB) |
The purpose of this open letter is to provide further guidance regarding purchasers who present an identification document bearing a Rural Route address.
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All FFLs-Aug2011-Open Letter-September 11th Anniversary (89.4 KB) |
The purpose of this letter is to encourage all Federal firearms licensees to increase their awareness and vigilance as the anniversary of September 11th approaches.
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All FFLs-Dec2002-Open Letter-Homeland Security Act of 2002 - ATF Moves to the Department of Justice (25.56 KB) | The purpose of this letter is to provide you with information on a provision of the recently enacted Homeland Security Act of 2002. This provision moves most of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) from the Department of the Treasury to the Department of Justice effective January 24, 2003. |
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All FFLs-Dec2004-Open Letter-Establishment of the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System's Voluntary Appeal File (14.87 KB) |
The purpose of this letter is to inform Federal firearms licensees that the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) National Instant Criminal Background Check System's (NICS) Voluntary Appeal File (VAF) has been established. |
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All FFLs-Dec2011-Open Letter-Future Amendment of Nonimmigrant Alien Provisions (66.96 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.
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All FFLs-Dec2011-Open Letter-State of Residence (70.01 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.
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All FFLs-Dec2012-Open Letter-For Importers the Availability of ATF Form 4587 (ATF F 5330.4) on Pay.gov (947.46 KB) |
This open letter contains information about the availability of ATF F 4587 (ATF F 5330.4), Application to Register as an Importer of U.S. Munitions Import List Articles, on Pay.gov.
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All FFLs-Jan2001-Open Letter-"Do's" and "Don'ts" for Curio or Relic Firearms Collectors (113.71 KB) |
The purpose of this letter is to apprise Federally licensed collectors of pertinent regulations of the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA). In this letter are some major “Do’s” and “Don’ts” for collectors that are based on these provisions.
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All FFLs-Jan2004-Open Letter-Importance of Partnerships Between ATF and the Firearms Industry (94.99 KB) | This open letter discusses the importance of the partnerships that have been established between ATF and the firearms industry and to reinforce our joint responsibilities under the Gun Control Act (GCA). |
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All FFLs-Jan2006-Open Letter-Certain Firearms Transfers Affected by the Change to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (35.37 KB) |
The purpose of this Open Letter is to advise all Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) of a recent change to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as it relates to the transfer of certain types of firearms.
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All FFLs-Jan2006-Open Letter-Change to the Look of the Federal Firearms License (FFL) (49.73 KB) |
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of a change to the look of the Federal firearms license (FFL) beginning January 12, 2006, in response to feedback received from licensees.
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