Firearms Attorney, Best-Selling Author & Founder of RocketFFL
Ryan Cleckner is a firearms attorney, best-selling author, and founder of RocketFFL, where he has helped more than 20,000 students learn how to get an FFL and operate a firearms business.
Ryan's firearms-industry experience includes serving as a Vice President for Remington Outdoor Company and as Federal Government Relations Manager for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). As an attorney, he has represented hundreds of FFLs in firearms-related legal and ATF compliance matters.
Ryan has taught Constitutional Law at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, testified before Congress on firearms law and ATF-related issues, and regularly appears in national media as a firearms legal expert.
Before becoming an attorney, Ryan served as a special operations sniper in the U.S. Army's 1st Ranger Battalion, including two deployments to Afghanistan. He is the best-selling author of the Long Range Shooting Handbook, which has sold more than 250,000 copies, as well as Advanced Long Range Shooting and other firearms books.
Through RocketFFL, Ryan focuses on making complicated firearms laws, ATF requirements, and compliance topics easier to understand.
How to Get a Class 3 License First, let's clear up a common misconception: there really is no such thing as a "Class 3 License." Instead, someone who has a Federal Firearms License, must become a Special Occupational Taxpayer (SOT) in order to deal, manufacture, or...
Among the many questions we receive, one of the most common is: “Can I get an FFL for personal use?” Well, as a firearms attorney with years of experience working with the ATF, representing hundreds of FFLs across the country, and helping many thousands of people get...
As a general rule, foreign nationals may not legally possess firearms or ammunition while in the United States. That doesn't mean every foreign visitor or tourist is breaking the law by merely holding a firearm. There are a few exceptions to the general rule that can...
Christmas is coming soon! If you're already an FFL, you’re likely to have customers looking to purchase a firearm as a gift for somebody else. If you're not already an FFL, what are you waiting for? You can start the process of getting your FFL today! Although this...
Obtaining a Federal Firearms License (FFL) in Colorado allows you to legally engage in the sale, transfer, and distribution of firearms in accordance with federal law. At a glance, Colorado has an average amount of gun laws statewide, but FFL dealers in a few counties...
If you are looking to purchase a new firearm, pick up ammunition, or explore firearm curios and collectibles, you'll likely interact with a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL). These licensees are authorized to legally buy, sell, and transfer firearms and ammunition, and...
"80% frames" and "80% receivers" have generated a lot of discussion in recent years. We frequently get questions such as: Are "80% frames" legal? What are "80% receivers"? Is an "80% frame" legally a firearm? Can I convert an "80% receiver" into a firearm? We aim to...
Choosing to become a Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder is a significant responsibility, regardless of where you operate. In Maryland, FFL holders are responsible for conducting required background checks, as well as the lawful sale, distribution, and transfer of...
Want to start a business as a gun dealer? The first step is obtaining a Federal Firearms License (FFL), which allows you to legally buy, sell, and transfer firearms, ammunition, and, if properly licensed, certain NFA items. Depending on your location and local...
When a customer purchases a firearm from a Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL), the firearm must be "transferred" to the customer using a federal form provided by the ATF called the "Firearm Transaction Record" or ATF Form 4473. If you've ever purchased a firearm from a...
We've got some great news for the firearms industry: ATF processing times for NFA paperwork have dropped significantly compared to previous years. We have even better news for you if you already have your FFL: this is likely to encourage more customers to buy NFA...
If you've already started researching 922r compliance, you've probably discovered that it can be a confusing topic. Worry not - I'm a firearms attorney and although this isn't legal advice because I'm not YOUR attorney, I've represented hundred of clients across the...