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Now’s the Time to Get your FFL

I don’t want this article (Top 4 Reasons to Get Your FFL) to become political, and I’m not endorsing any politicians or their plans outside of the firearms industry. Regardless of your political views, if you are a firearms enthusiast, then you know that the current administration is no friend of the gun industry.

Right now is the time to acquire an FFL.

Reason 1: Administrations Change, Licenses Don’t

Administrations come and go, as do senators and representatives. A Federal Firearms License, however, is generally not subject to the whims of politicians. Once you get your FFL, you can keep it for as long as you’re in business – provided that you don’t do anything illegal.

In 2016, there were rumblings from the ATF about no longer issuing FFLs to home-based businesses. This was in June, and four months later the ATF was looking at a new administration and a total Republican control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Those anti-small business rumblings immediately disappeared, and we got a newer, friendlier ATF.

What is a “Kitchen Table FFL”?

“Kitchen Table FFL” is a derogatory term started during the Clinton administration as an attempt to devalue small businesses and small-time FFLs. They often used the term to describe small, home-based FFLs they thought were trying to beat the system. The term and the meaning behind it are ridiculous. Home-based FFLs are subject to the same laws, regulations, restrictions, and processes to obtain an FFL as any other gun store. Plus, they make up a large majority of FFLs. Currently, 67% of all FFLs in the USA are home-based.

 

Reason 2: Home-Based FFLs Are Safe

The now-former ATF Deputy Director penned a white paper where they addressed home-based FFLs and seemingly ending the war on the Kitchen Table FFL. Specifically, the white paper said,

The marketplace has changed significantly in recent years, and ATF’s guidance to FFLs on these issues has not kept pace with developments in commerce. Classic “brick and mortar” storefronts with an on-hand inventory and set “front-door” business hours often no longer apply in today’s modern marketplace.

Unfortunately, administrations come and go, as we said. The 2020 election gave us an anti-gun administration and congress.

What is the Sporting Purpose Clause?

One of the most infamous clauses ever used to prohibit the importation of firearms is the sporting purpose clause. The sporting purpose clause gives the Attorney General and by extension the administration the ability to ban rifles and shotguns that don’t meet a ridiculous sporting purpose test. The ATF white paper addresses revising the sporting purpose test to include 3 gun and USPSA shooting sports. The White Paper specifically says:

Since the sunset of the Assault Weapons ban in 2004, the use of AR-15s, AK-style, and similar rifles now commonly referred to as “modern sporting rifles” has increased exponentially in sport shooting. These firearm types are now standard for hunting activities. ATF could re-examine its almost 20-year-old study to bring it up to date with the sport shooting landscape of today, which is vastly different than what it was years ago. Action shooting sports and organizations such as 3 Gun and the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) have also drastically expanded in recent years.

How does this affect you as a small FFL? Well, a 250 dollar gun is easier to sell than a 600 dollar gun. If the sporting purpose test is reworked, you could see the start of the importation of extremely low-priced semi-automatic rifles.

Reason 3: Money to be Made with Transfers

Let’s not forget transfers. People rushing to buy guns that were previously banned will likely shop online and the guns will have to be transferred one way or another. The transfer fee on a 200 dollar gun is the same as a 1,000 dollar gun, right? Cheaper guns will mean more gun sales and more transfers for you.

What Happened and What Could Happen

We didn’t see a ton of individual regulations lifted on actual firearms, but the Trump administration removed numerous business and firearms regulations. One of the most important for small businesses in the gun industry was Operation Choke Point.

The next gun business-based victory was the easing of export rules for U.S.-made guns. This won’t affect too many small FFLs, but could easily affect niche type 07 FFL manufacturers. The biggest effect small FFLs will see is increased production to meet export demands, which could lower prices and drive innovation. Prior to this exports of AR 15s were treated the same as missile sales.

But again, the Biden administration is no friend of ours. If he and the current Congress had their way, almost every FFL in the country would be shut down. Thankfully, though, we have strong industry and lobby groups, like the NSSF and FPC. We managed to get David Chipman’s ATF nomination pulled, so this shows we can get things done.

Reason 4: FFLs Offer Stability

Even when rules and regulations change for individual gun and ammo buyers, things remain more stable for FFLs. One need look no further than post-86 machine guns. The average Joe Gun Guy cannot buy one, but a properly licensed FFL can – and it’s been that way for more than 30 years, through good and bad administrations alike.

Wait!

We have more reasons to get your FFL.

Other Reasons to Get your FFL

  • To start with, overhead and low costs. A safe alarm system is not necessary.
  • Manufacturers’ direct and wholesale access; online ordering 24 hours a day.
  • Hobby, part-time income.
  • Numerous part-time niche adventures are possible, including artillery, hard coatings, internet transfers, hydrography, silencing class 3, auctioning, web sales, etc.
  • Market demand is always record high.
  • Help friends make it difficult to find good firearms prices.
  • No background inspections or danger to send firearms to you directly.
  • Gunshows can be used for displaying.
  • All activities with this new adventure are often possible with a tax deductible; tax reductions are possible.
  • State legislation on gun control is not often applicable to FFL holders. No waiting time, background checks; can often purchase non-FFL products.

These are few reasons to get your FFL today.

If Not Now, Then When?

As a firearms enthusiast, I learned very quickly that waiting is never a good idea. Who remembers the great gun, magazine, and ammo drought of 2012-2014? I know I learned my lesson and I haven’t stopped stocking up. And let’s not forget the ongoing ammo shortage of 2020-2021. If you didn’t learn your lesson before, it’s now a really hard one to learn.

If you want an FFL, now is not the time to procrastinate. The firearms industry and the regulations regarding firearms seem to change as the wind blows left and right. Today, it’s blowing the right way for the enterprising FFL owner.

If you need help getting your FFL, then you’ve come to the right place. If you’re intimidated by the process and intimidated by the regulation changes our current FFL kit stays continuously updated. Our kits offer just about everything you need to start your own home-based FFL, the only thing missing is your ambition.

Note: Please inform us if in this article (Top reasons to get your FFL) you have any suggestions or reasons. We are glad to add it.

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