Acquiring a Federal Firearms License

[barronj]

I was wondering if anyone would know the best way start the process of getting a Federal Firearms License. I was looking at a website http://federalfirearmslicense.com/FFL_Kit2.html?hop=nickh6, that made the process seem very easy. I was wondering if this was a valid website or if it was a scam. I would appreciate any information with regards to this topic. I really enjoy this site. Thanks

[Graybeard]

Totally wrong forum for this discussion and it will get little to no response here I'm sure. Since I'm sure there are some folks with FFLs on the Gunsmithing Forum I'm going to move it there.

But in a nutshell. Go to the BATF website and you'll find all you need there I'm sure. IT is not that easy and you may or may not even be allowed to get one. You likely will have to show you do in fact have a place of business totally separate from your reisidence and that you will maintain set hours which must be posted.

Once it was fairly easy to get an FFL but no longer. In fact during the Klinton years well over half of those who had FFLs lost them.

[Don Buckbee]

Bill,
I lost mine....
Don Buckbee

[SBF]

As Bill mentioned the biggest hurdle for the "average Joe" to getting an 01 FFL is the "storefront" clause.  Get the needed info and paperwork off the BATFE site, no need to pay someone to give you the info that is right at your fingertips so to speak.
A 03 FFL is much easier and cheaper to get although you are limited to Curio and Relic Firearms and can only use it for collecting, not business.  It's cheap at $30.00 for three years and the paperwork required to get the FFL and to maintain your "Bound Book" after you get the license is minimal.  In fact all you do is fill out a form much like a Form 4473 you fill out when you pick up a gun now and one other small form (which is stupid) where you state that you are a US citizen.

Good luck!

[bchannell]

I had a shop for a long while thru the '80's and early '90's, when it was still ok to work "by appointment". That is not the case now, and you have to have a legitimate store front.

The really funny thing is, the GCA 1968 was written in such a way as to specifically protect the "kitchen table" type of gun shop. The very thing they have morphed the law to deny?

Unless you are serious about opening a retail gun outlet, I'd advise against getting a license. You might get away with some other arrangement for a while, but inspections are often now, whereas years ago, they were infrequent or never. Once inspected, if you're not following the rules to the letter, you'll be revoked. It's really not worth the hassle, and that's what they want.

[dukkillr]

how much is it, just he license i mean?  how long does it last?

[springer222]

I think the initial charge now is 200$ for the first 3 years and then 90$/3 years thereafter.