I've applied for a Federal Firearms Liscence with the Department of Justice here in Sacramento Ca recently. I'll keep you guys posted on how things in Ca work or don't work. Wish me luck!

Rick

 

Good luck!!

 

Yeah, what he said.

 

yup, good luck. let us know.

 

FFL in CA? sheesh... are not asking for much are ya?

 

I obviously prefer to do things the hard way

It is get the liscence or move out of state. Or both. I'm done with the freakish nature of the state that I once called home!

I'm still felony free and I foresee no problems except expense!!

Rick

 

I recommend moveing!!

 

Let us know how cordial the FBI agents are when they come rapping at your door!

What class are you going for? and seriously, Good luck!

 

Just out of curiosity, what are the steps involved in getting a FFL?

 

You file the application with ATF and pay the fee, if you are not a felon or otherwise prohibited from obtaining a license due to some other illegal activity you should get the license.

With the license comes responsibility and specific rules you MUST adhere to, for most of us it is no different than how we live our normal lives day to day. You can find information on an FFL http://www.atf.treas.gov/firearms/nlc/ffl/index.htm

 

What are the benefits of having an FFL? It mostly has to do with buying and selling firearms, correct?

 

Yes this license is ONLY for buying and selling firearms, there is no advantage to having one unless you call giving the ATF the right to search your place at anytime and advantage

Seriously..there are many regulations surrounding an FFL that do not make it attractive for the average person.

 

I'm just trying to understand why anyone besides a gun dealer would want one. I can buy, sell or trade firearms all I want to within the state of Texas...and there aren't many guns outside of Texas that I can't live without.

I can certainly see why a dealer would want one...and even a gunsmith...but not your average person.

 

Well it actually can be a liability if you are not an active dealer buying and selling guns for a living. As an example you MUST by Law list an address where you will be doing business with this license.

If this address is your home then you have given ATF the right to search your place anytime day or night. Also if you have a burglary and some of your own private guns are stolen, your insurance will not cover them because you sell guns and as such would need business insurance to cover that activity.

You can argue with the holders of your homeowners policy all day, but in the end they will deny your claim anytime they are given an opportunity to do so, and an FFL may be that opportunity.

So insurance is just one of the issues that needs to be addressed whe working a business like that out of your home. There are also laws (both State and Federal) that have to be addressed regarding storage of any firearms.

Lots of things can make it more of a pain than it is worth, obvioulsy not for everybody

 

I sent my license back in the early 90's when I got sick of the ATF (now ATFE) sending, almost weekly, moderately veiled threats about their right to - 24 / 7 - search the entire licensed premises at any time, for any reason; Given the ATF abuses that were coming to light during that era, I opted out of possibly having to go toe to toe with them.

.....that being SAID, I must admit that the savings I enjoyed as a licensed dealer made it quite easy to build up my personal collection