Regulatory change, translated into an FFL action list.
This section tracks material federal firearms regulatory developments and related agency actions. Every item should identify its status so a proposal is not confused with an effective rule. FFL Connect prioritizes official ATF, Federal Register, regulations.gov, FBI/NICS, and judicial sources, with industry reporting used only for additional context.
Status guide: Guidance explains agency direction; Final Rule identifies a rule that has been finalized; Proposed Rule identifies a proposal that may change before taking effect; Withdrawn means a proposed or direct-final action was pulled; Form Update identifies a revised official form; Ruling identifies formal agency ruling material; Rescinded identifies guidance the agency has withdrawn.
ATF Ruling 2026-1 Exempts SS109/M855 Projectiles and Projectile Cores from the Armor-Piercing Ammunition Definition
ATF Ruling 2026-1 determines that SS109/M855 projectiles and projectile cores qualify for the sporting-purpose exemption from the federal armor-piercing ammunition definition.
ATF Proposes Changes to Fingerprint and Photograph Requirements for Firearms Applications
ATF proposed allowing a copy of qualifying photo identification instead of the traditional passport-style photograph in specified firearms applications and proposed reducing fingerprint-card requirements in several contexts. Comments are due October 5, 2026.
ATF Withdraws Direct-Final Rule That Would Have Expanded eZ Check Use for FFL-to-FFL Transfers
ATF withdrew the May 2026 direct-final eZ Check rule after receiving significant adverse comments. The planned alternative did not take effect.
ATF Withdraws Direct-Final Rule That Would Have Expanded eZ Check Use for FFL-to-FFL Transfers
ATF withdrew the May 2026 direct-final eZ Check rule after receiving significant adverse comments. The planned alternative did not take effect.
ATF Publishes Revised Form 7 / 7CR Federal Firearms License Application
ATF’s Firearms Forms page lists Form 7/7CR, the federal firearms license application, as published/revised July 10, 2026.
ATF Keeps Existing Form 4473 Collection in Place While Proposed Revision Is Reviewed
ATF’s July 29 interim notice says it is requesting extension of the existing Form 4473 information collection without change while it reviews comments on proposed revisions. Dealers should not start using the proposed draft form merely because a draft was published for comment.
ATF Rules Library Now Marks 2011 Medical-Marijuana Open Letter “Rescinded”
ATF’s rules-and-regulations library now identifies the 2011 medical-marijuana open letter as rescinded. The underlying federal statutory prohibitions were not themselves repealed by removal of the old letter.
ATF Issues New Guidance on Repairs and Caliber Changes to Registered Silencers
ATF says a complete registered silencer may be repaired or changed to a different caliber without being treated as a new making when the serialized frame or receiver is not destroyed, required markings are not removed or altered, and the work does not make a new firearm.