had my 2 hour meeting with ATF

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sansone

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well, the federal agent came to my home to evaluate my request for 01FFL.. he came alone in his own car and flashed his badge. first thing he wanted was my driver license. now that we knew eachother was who we said we were things got "right friendly".. Of course he wanted to inspect the sight where gun sales were to take place, but had no interest in the rest of the real estate. overall it was a good experience other than all the examples he gave as to how we could go to jail for ten years over simple mistakes. NO MISTAKES CAN BE MADE...period:what: in three weeks I should recieve the license by mail. the fed said I'm good to go provided my county comes through with the "home occupation permit". that's another frustrating story for later. :banghead:
 
Don't want you to slip up or anything, but my FFL really isn't very careful when filling out the 4473 or his logbook. He's pretty old. I usually have to point out his mistakes. He doesn't get any problems during audit, it really depends on who is doing the audit. He's got people skills too.
 
Unless the Federal Laws have changed...

He had no interest in the rest of the real estate because it just falls into the same legal jurisdiction of the business. He knows that as far as your property goes, any and all structures that occupy the same piece of real estate that the gun business occupies can also be subjected any time to a warrentless search just like the gun business itself. It doesn't matter if one or more of the other structures happens to be your house, garage or storage shed etc.. It makes no difference to him. You've now surrendered your normal rights of search and seizure to this real estate. He left a happy man.
 
i was under the impression that it was almost impossible to get your residence approved by the atf for a new ffl. is that not the case?
 
I also heard rumors that made me think home-based dealers were no longer allowed. he approved my home-based 01FFL.. I have a 24x12 outbuilding in back of the house where the business will exist. no sign by the road, no sign on the outbuilding
 
I don't think it's an issue with home-based business per se. It's that you have to have the ability to get an actual business license for the place from the local authorities now. If your town will not let you run a business where people come to you out of a residential zoned house, you can't get a business license and therefore can't get an FFL without a storefront.

My understanding is that they didn't use to require your place to be a licensed business premisis.....which is different than just haveing a business license.
 
i was under the impression that it was almost impossible to get your residence approved by the atf for a new ffl. is that not the case?
Click to expand...

It depends on where your live and how your residence is zoned. Most localities don't permit "commercial activity" in residential areas.

OTOH if you're living in a house that isn't in a subdivision, is zoned ag, or doesn't have the "no commercial activity" clause in the zoning language then you'd be ok. Most folks don't live in those types of places.
 
"logical" hit the nail on the head. everything now rests on the county approval. the phone-answerer girl told me NO so quick I stuttered. then I asked why my various neighbors are allowed to run auto repair, horse grooming, from their homes and why quiet gun sales are not allowed! she asked if I would like to get a call back from her boss..DUH!!! well YES!! :banghead: // the boss told me to come in and fill out a form. I did but now I'm waiting for the snail-mail to bring me an official YES or NO letter. :banghead: it almost feels like discrimination ??
 
Don't forget the need to protect your personal assets. Notify your home insurance carrier of your business and get product liability insurance. It's not worth the risk to not do these things just so you can sell firearms for 10% over cost.
 
crazyjohn.. as a gun buyer I would have been happy with paying 10-20% over cost when asking a local FFL to order me a new gun.. for some reason around here the local dealers want MUCH more. I decided this county needs a dealer willing to make a smaller profit. hope they don't run me out on a rail:D
edit: yes, insurance people will be contacted.... thanks
 
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Wish I'd seen this beforehand...

Do not call it "gun sales." Or that sort of thing. Basically, you're catering to a niche market - "Target Shooter Supply," that sort of thing. Make it sound innoculuous, and not a danger to the local highschoolers.

Emphasize that it's primarily mail order, with a select client list, etc., etc... Doesn't matter that the client list might be "anyone who can pass a background check."
 
My last 01 renewal was denied because the city government would not re-permit me for my home based business.
Without the local permit to conduct business the BATFE cannot grant me my renewal.
I am approved by the city and the BATFE if I choose to open a commercial business located in a zoned retail area that is accepted under preliminary inspection.
I am not quite ready to do that.
 
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