Hi,
Based on the number of firearms I have purchased within this past two years and paying for each FFL transfer fee, a friend suggested to consider getting my own FFL license and eliminate the middle man.
Any of you out there have experience on having your own FFL license at one point or another?
What is the annual cost of the license?
And is it worth having your own? What are the pros and cons of having your own FFL license?
Does having one, exposes one to a visit from the feds?
Thanks in advance.
Back when I was a teenager in the '80s/90s a lot of gun enthusiasts did this. They were affectionately referred to as table top ffls. Back then there really wasn’t much in the way of extra regulation. It’s my understanding that things have changed drastically since then. It’s almost impossible just to get a Plain Jane FFL for your house. You need to have a business. One person even told me that you have to have an actual separate either part of your house or building for the business entity. I can’t swear that that’s true now.
A lot of paperwork has to be done and kept perfectly for them to review when they want to. And yes, they can stop by anytime either announced or unannounced to inspect you. Thus, most people don’t do this anymore.
I agree with Carter, most hobbyists that have had their FFL for years have let them lapse. Too much regulation/cost.
Biggest drawback is you’re giving the green light to audit your guns IN YOUR HOME without a warrant.
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That’s one thing i was afraid of , visiting unannounced.
A few months back i watched a 30 second YouTube video of this guy who was openiing his gun safe and he mostly had AR-style firearms. But he claimed to had been inspected by the feds unannounced. (Who knows whether he was telling the truth or making it up).
After watching it, the next day i asked my colleague who has been into firearms, specifically collecting shutguns of value. She has something like 6 gun safes of various sizes for her collection, whether she had ever been visited or know of anybody who has? And the answer was no. But, i had a suspicion that once you do get the license they would treat that license just like the various boards of medical field that they pay a nonannoused visit once a year every year and i can tell you from first hand experience they always find something wrong that they will write you up and give you a deadline by which to correct it.
Thanks everyone for your input, i am glad i checked before committing.
I think i will continue with the gunshop i have been doing business with. I have built a good relationship with them.