Guidance Documents

Guidance Documents

Component Document Issued Posted ID Topic Overview
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1980-20- Rifle Bore Tasers as Firearms February 1, 1980 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312721 Firearms This ruling advises that a hand-held device with a hand grip bent at an angle to the bore and having a rifled bore which is designed to expel, by means of an explosive, two electrical contacts (barbs) connected by two wires to a high voltage source within the device is classified as a firearm. ATF Rul. 76-6 is amplified.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1980-21- Identification of State of Residency for Out-of-State College Students January 1, 1980 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312726 Firearms This ruling advises that an out-of-State college student may establish residence in a State by residing and maintaining a home in a college dormitory or in a location off-campus during the school term.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1982-2- KG-9 Pistol as NFA Weapon January 19, 1982 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312731 Firearms This ruling advises that the KG-9 pistol is a machinegun as defined in the National Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1981-3- Importation of Firearms Acquired Outside the U.S. by U.S. Citizens January 1, 1981 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312736 Firearms This ruling advises that nonresident U.S. citizens returning to the United States and nonresident aliens lawfully immigrating to the United States may obtain a permit to import firearms acquired outside of the United States, provided such firearms may be lawfully imported.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1981-4- Auto Sear November 1, 1981 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312741 Firearms This ruling advises that auto sear known by various trade names including "AR15 Auto Sear," "Drop in Auto Sear," and "Auto Sear II," falls under the definition of machinegun as defined by 26 U.S.C. 5845(b).
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1982-8- SM10, SM11A Pistols and SAC Carbines as NFA Weapons June 21, 1982 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312746 Firearms This ruling advises that the SM10 and SM11A1 pistols and SAC carbines are machineguns as defined in the National Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1983-5- STEN MK II as NFA Weapon January 1, 1983 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312751 Firearms This ruling advises that the YAC STEN MK II carbine is a machinegun as defined in the National Firearms Act.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1985-2- Importation of NFA Firearms as Sales Samples January 1, 1985 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312756 Firearms This ruling advises that a National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm may not be imported for use as a sample for sales to law enforcement agencies if the firearm is a curio or relic unless it is established that the firearm is particularly suitable for use as a law enforcement weapon.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1985-10- Surplus Military Frames or Receivers, Alone, Denied Importation August 29, 1985 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312761 Firearms This ruling advises that surplus military firearms frames or receivers alone not specifically classified as curios or relics by ATF will be denied importation.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1987-1- Revoking 68 Obsolete ATF Rulings January 1, 1987 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312766 Firearms Periodic review of outstanding rulings reflect the that the following list of rulings are obsolete because of expiration or changes to current laws and regulations.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1987-2- Revoking 44 obsolete ATF Rulings January 1, 1987 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312771 Firearms Periodic review of outstanding rulings reflect the that the following list of rulings are obsolete because of expiration or changes to current laws and regulations.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1994-1- USAS-12 Shotgun as NFA Weapon January 1, 1994 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312776 Firearms This ruling advises that the USAS-12 shotgun has a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter and is not generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes. Therefore, it is classified as a destructive device for purposes of the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1994-2- Striker 12 Shotgun Defined as NFA Weapon March 1, 1994 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312781 Firearms This ruling advises that the Striker-12/Streetsweeper shotgun has a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter and is not generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes. Therefore, it is classified as a destructive device for purposes of the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1995-3- 37/38mm Gas/Flare Guns with Anti-Personnel Ammunition are Defined as NFA Weapons January 1, 1995 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312786 Firearms This ruling advises that 37/38 mm gas/flare guns possessed with cartridges containing wood pellets, rubber pellets or balls, or bean bags are classified as destructive devices for purposes of the Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44, and the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1996-2- Estate Sale Auctioneers and FFL Requirements January 1, 1996 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312791 Firearms This ruling advises that auctioneers who regularly conduct consignment-type auctions of firearms, e.g., held every 1-2 months, on behalf of firearms owners where the auctioneer takes possession pursuant to a consignment contract with the owner of the firearms, giving the auctioneer authority to sell the firearms and providing for a commission to be paid upon such sale, are required to obtain a license as a dealer in firearms.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 1997-2- Semiautomatic Firearms Resembing the Browning 1919A-4 and A-6 Machineguns January 1, 1997 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312796 Firearms This ruling advises that the 1919 A-4 semiautomatic firearm and 1919 A-6 semiautomatic rifle are "portable weapons" within the definition firearm and are therefore the subject to the excise tax when sold by their importer or manufacturer pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 4181.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 2001-5- Identification of Transferee (Supersedes ATF Ruling 1979-7) December 31, 2001 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312801 Firearms This ruling advises that licensees may accept a combination of valid government-issued documents to satisfy the identification document requirements of the Brady Act under certain conditions. An active duty member of the Armed Forces is a resident of the State in which his or her permanent duty station is located, and may satisfy the identification document requirement by presenting his or her military identification card along with official orders. This ruling supersedes ATF Ruling 1979-7.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 2002-3- Indoor Storage of Explosives in a Residence or Dwelling August 23, 2002 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312806 Explosives This ruling advises that ATF will approve variances to store explosives in a residence or dwelling only upon certain conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of a certification of compliance with State and local law, and documentation that local fire safety officials have received a copy of the certification.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 2002-4- Indoor Storage of Explosives in Business Premises Directly Adjacent to a Residence or Dwelling August 23, 2002 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312811 Explosives This ruling advises that ATF requires approval of variances for indoor storage of explosives in business premises directly adjacent to a residence or dwelling.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 2002-5- Transfer and Possession Machineguns September 6, 2002 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312816 Firearms This ruling advises that applications to transfer two (2) machineguns of a particular model to a Federal firearms licensee as sales samples will be approved if documentation shows necessity for demonstration to government agencies.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 2002-6- Identification of Firearms, Armor Piercing Ammunition, and Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Devices November 5, 2002 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312821 Firearms This ruling advises that in accordance with 27 CFR 178.92 and 27 CFR 179.102, identification of firearms, armor piercing ammunition, and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, the terms "conspicuously" and "legibly" as used therein mean, respectively, that the markings are wholly unobstructed from plain view and that the markings contain exclusively Roman letters and Arabic numerals.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 2003-1- Importation of Browning M1919 Type Receivers for Unrestricted Commercial Sale January 24, 2003 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312826 Firearms This ruling describes an ATF-approved method of destruction for the Browning M1919 type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 2003-2- Importation of FN FAL Type Receivers for Unrestricted Commercial Sale January 24, 2003 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312831 Firearms This ruling describes an ATF-approved method of destruction for the FN FAL type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 2003-3- Importation of Heckler & Koch G3 Type Receivers for Unrestricted Commercial Sale January 24, 2003 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312836 Firearms This ruling describes an ATF-approved method of destruction for the Heckler & Koch G3 type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ATF Ruling 2003-4- Importation of Sten Type Receivers for Unrestricted Commercial Sale.pdf January 24, 2003 February 28, 2020 DOJ-1312841 Firearms This ruling describes an ATF-approved method of destruction for the Sten type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

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