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How to Get an FFL - Federal Firearms License
Want
to know how to get an FFL – Federal firearms license? The FFL
allows you to buy and sell guns wholesale as a dealer, at
dealer prices, in dealer quantities, even from your home.
Yes,
you need a place of business to be a licensed gun dealer, but whether
you get an FFL using your residence as a place of business
depends on state and local laws. While
some state and local authorities prohibit home based
businesses, most allow it. If your state or local
government doesn't allow it, you can still get a Federal firearm
license simply by using a place other than your home to
conduct business.
How
to get an FFL is governed by the Gun Control Act, Title18 U.S.C. sec.
923(d). The GCA empowers the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms to regulate businesses engaging in firearms sales and
service. There are a lot of rules and regulations, but the
GCA states that a properly filed application will
(not "may") be approved if you:
1. are 21 years of age or
older
2. are not otherwise
prohibited from transporting, shipping, or receiving firearms
or
ammunition
3. have not willfully
violated any provision of the GCA
4. have not willfully failed
to disclose any material information or made any false
statement on your application
5. have a premises from which
to engage in business
6. certify that the business
will comply with State and local laws and that local law
enforcement officials have been notified of the application
The application fee to get an FFL is $200.00 and that's good
for 3 years. It costs $90.00 to renew your license
every 3 years after that.
No
one can guarantee your application will be approved, but if you meet
the 6 criteria listed above and you fill out the application completely
and correctly, your application should be approved. It takes
at least 6 weeks for your application to be reviewed and processed by
the ATF, but it can take up to 8-12 weeks so be patient.
ATF
has a website with more information at
atf.gov/firearms/fflc/index.htm. There are also
step-by-step guides available on how to get an FFL. One of
the best of these is available at FFLKit.com
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