Many gun owners look for ways to share their passion with other people around them. This may take the form of taking their friends shooting, teaching people about firearm safety, or simply talking about it in conversations. But for many, the epitome of this passion is opening up their very own gun store. To do […]

The United States is full of individuals, communities, and states passionate about firearms, whether buying, selling, shooting, or manufacturing. This is why scores of people want to become FFL dealers every day. These Federal Firearms License holders are people who can legally buy and sell handguns, rifles, ammo, and other NFA items (such as suppressors, […]

How long do FFLs need to keep their records? As an attorney specializing in ATF compliance for FFLs, this is a fairly common question I receive. Unfortunately, the simplest answer I have is a common answer from attorneys: “It depends.”  The duration for each ATF record that you need to keep as a Federal Firearms […]

FFL eZ Check system provided by the ATF that helps individuals and other FFLs confirm the validity of a Federal Firearm License (FFL). The eZ Check system is a great tool for what it is designed for: to make sure that an FFL is legitimate. In this article, we’re going to cover everything you need […]

Under federal law, “Prohibited persons” may not possess firearms or ammunition. It is also unlawful to knowingly give a prohibited person firearms or ammunition. Those restrictions may seem straight-forward, but there are unique definitions and exceptions that apply to both – for example, what exactly makes a person “prohibited” and what technically counts as firearms […]

So, you’re either thinking about getting your FFL, or you already have an FFL license and are curious about Responsible Persons (RPs). We get it – there’s a lot of confusion about Responsible Persons on FFLs. We hear questions about RPs like: We’ll cover these questions in this Responsible Person Guide. Of course, the basics […]

There’s a special ATF Form before you can transport NFA Firearms across state lines – it’s the ATF Form 5320.20 form (also called the “Form 20”) In this ATF 5320.20 form guide, we’re going to cover: Restrictions on Interstate NFA Firearm Transportation Before we cover the rules for traveling with NFA Firearms across state lines, […]

The State of Maine allows Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders to sell, distribute, and manufacture firearms within its borders. Gun dealers will find Maine a pleasant state to do business in, with an abundance of hunting, constitutional carry, and less restrictive gun laws than most states. There are just a few requirements to get your […]

Welcome to the mother-load of ATF-related data on firearms in commerce! Each year the ATF publishes a report that includes data on the number of firearms in commerce (made, exported, and imported) and statistics on NFA firearms (forms, revenue, and distribution) and FFLs (applications and inspections. In the ATF’s Firearms Commerce in the United States […]

The firearms industry is full of people passionate about exercising their second amendment rights to the fullest extent. This includes people who want to serve their communities by opening their very own gun shop and becoming Federal Firearms License Holders. FFL gun dealers are people who are legally able to sell firearms, ammo, and other […]

America is one of the only countries in the world where individuals can possess and sell firearms without having to worry about oppressive gun laws (in most states). If you want to open up your own gun shop, you can do so with relative ease in many states — just like Oregon! All you need […]

When this article was first written in 2017, the Minnesota Handgun Carry Permit had just been approved by the ATF as an alternative to the normally required FBI NICS background check prior to the transfer of a firearm from an FFL to a customer. As of then, Minnesota Handgun Carry Permits with expiration dates of […]