FFL question

[flight_rt]

Hello all, I am thinking about getting my FFL. I am planning on running the business out of my home. I have been told by others, that my entire home and current personal collection would be up to inspection and if the ATF did not like one thing about how I had it set up, they could take my personal collection. Is that a true statement. Also what other cons are there by having a FFL out of your home? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Husker1911]

Do your local zoning laws allow you to operate your firearms business from your home? There will probably be issues with access and emergency exits. I believe the BATFE will have access to any room you conduct business in, and also anywhere you store the pertinent records involving the sale of guns. You must realize you give up as many personal rights as you gain financial ones with the FFL. Good luck.

 

[SIOP]

Chances are that unless you're selling to the Homies, you'll never see an Inspector after your initial interview. They have bigger fish to fry than you. And even if they do show up, as long as your ducks are lined up a visit from ATF would probably amount to nothing more than checking your inventory and 4473's against your bound book. It ain't rocket science.

 

[TIMC]

I ran mine from my home for several years.
The BATF was not interested in anyplace in my home except the area where I ran my buisness from.
They did not care about my personal collection they just wanted them kept seperate from the buisness firearms which means you need more than one secure area to store firearms.
The biggest con to running your buisness from home is you must be open to the public to be granted an FFL which means you must be available to the public. That translates to people you may not want to know you have guns or where you live must have the opportunity to visit your buisness too. This was my main reason for shutting down. Some people are down right scary and I live in a nice area.

 

[SIOP]

The biggest con to running your buisness from home is you must be open to the public to be granted an FFL which means you must be available to the public.

You have to have established hours of business. All that means is that if ATF wants to visit, you have to be available during those hours. There's nothing that says you have to be open to the public or let anyone in. If you're an internet dealer, there's no reason for anyone to ever show up at your place unless they're invited.

 

[TexKettering]

You have to have established hours of business. All that means is that if ATF wants to visit, you have to be available during those hours. There's nothing that says you have to be open to the public or let anyone in. If you're an internet dealer, there's no reason for anyone to ever show up at your place unless they're invited.

Does the ATF come by on surprise visits or do they schedule a time? If you're an internet dealer, you may not be home during your posted hours... other job, running errands, etc... ???

 

[Kentak]

Instead of relying only on what you hear here, why don't you go to the source and get information from ATF?

Try this link for starters:

http://www.atf.treas.gov/firearms/fflc/about.htm

 

[Kentak]

As I recall, it used to be a lot easier to get and maintain an FFL in the past than it is now. Aren't there requirements for maintaining a certain amount of inventory and/or having a specified minimum amount of transactions?

K

 

[SIOP]

Does the ATF come by on surprise visits or do they schedule a time? If you're an internet dealer, you may not be home during your posted hours... other job, running errands, etc... ???

My ATF guy told me they'd call beforehand to make sure I was going to be around. And there is no requirement on what your business hours are. They could be only an hour a day a couple of days a week. It's really more of having something to fill the blocks on the application than anything else. And if they do show up by surprise while you're not there, well, then you're not there. That's why he said they'd call first. Now, if they suspected you of doing something crooked, then I wouldn't be surprised if they just show up and camp on your doorstep until you do show up. But for a routine check, they don't want to waste their time anymore than they have to. I was only an FFL for two years before I moved and turned my license in, never had a visit or even an inquiry from ATF.

 

[pharmer]

Had home based 01 FFL from '82-'95. First 4 years were great as ammo and some components were FFL items. Sold lots more than guns. With the '86 machine gun ban (give something take something .gov) ammo was no longer in its own bound book. By the Klinton admin, it was such a PITA (even with absolute compliance) and zoning problems made it impossible. Today, unless you intend to take on Gander Mtn/ Bass Pro, it isn't worth the hassle. Joe

 

[schildgen]

I also surrendered mine during the early Klinton years, not worth the hassle.

 

[Jim K]

In the past BATFE inspections were arranged in advance, but in at least one area recently several dealers were "hit" at the same time with surprise inspections. Apparently, the idea was to keep one dealer from warning others. They did a nit-pick job, citing 4473's with the height or weight missing or illegible, etc. Few dealers escaped with no violations.

As far as dealing from home, Clinton's administration set out to eliminate home dealers and did a pretty good job of it. The justification was that many home dealers were not really dealers, but guys getting cheap guns for their hunting buddies. I would like to be able to say that was untrue, but I can't because I knew several "dealers" just like that, and some of them didn't bother to keep good records either.

I always advise anyone who is serious about going into the firearms business to set up a properly zoned shop, get all the local and state licenses as well as an FFL, and play the game right. If you keep proper records and keep your nose clean, you won't have any problem with the feds.

One main reason to keep your business and home separate is that your home won't become a target for burglars looking for guns. Also, you won't be rousted out of the sack at 2AM on opening day of deer season by some idiot who put off buying his gun or ammo until the last minute.

Jim