About Federal Firearms Licenses

Any business in the U.S. that involves firearms must obtain a Federal Firearms License. There are nine types of Federal Firearms Licenses depending on the type of business. Applying for a Federal Firearms License is simple if the requirements for the license are met and the fees for the application are paid.

The Facts

Federal Firearms Licenses or FFL are handled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) under the U.S. Department of Justice. To apply for a FFL, an application form must be filled out and submitted to the BATFE. The application is ATF Form 7 and should be sent with a photograph, fee and fingerprints that are taken by a law enforcement agency. It can take up to 60 days for the application to be approved or rejected and a FFL is valid for three years. Federal Firearms Licenses are non-transferable and if there is more than one location for the business, each location must have it's own separate license.

Function

Through the Gun Control Act of 1968, it is required that any business that deals, imports or manufactures firearms, and/or imports or manufactures ammunition, must have a Federal Firearms License (FFL). To legally run a business involving ammunition or firearms, a FFL must be obtained.

Requirements

Eligibility requirements to receive a Federal Firearms License (FFL) include:
1. Must be at least 21 years of age or older.
2. Must not be prohibited from possessing, receiving, shipping or transporting ammunition and/or firearms.
3. Must not have willfully violated the federal firearms law or any of it's regulations.
4. Must not have willfully failed to disclose or withheld information or given false statements or information on the application.
5. Must have premises in the state of application to conduct business.
6. Must certify that the business conducted under the FFL is not prohibited by local law or state of business; the business will comply with the local law and state requirements within 30 days of application approval; no business will be conducted under the license until all local law and state requirements are met; a copy of the completed application for the business has been sent to the chief law enforcement officer of the locality in which the premises of the business is located; and there will be safety devices or secure gun storage available where firearms are sold.

Types

There are nine types of Federal Firearms Licenses according to the business and are listed as follows:
Type 01-Dealer in firearms
Type 02-Pawnbroker
Type 03-Collector of curios and relics
Type 06-Manufacturer of ammunition for firearms
Type 07-Manufacturer of firearms
Type 08-Importer of firearms/ammunition
Type 09-Dealer in destructive devices
Type 10-Manufacturer of destructive devices
Type 11-Importer of destructive devices

Considerations

Federal Firearms Licenses (FFL) are valid for three years. Any personal firearms owned by the licensee must be kept separate from the inventory of the business. Licensed businesses must abide by keeping records according to federal requirements and are subjected to annual inspections by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE). Firearms theft or loss must be reported to local law enforcement and BATFE within 48 hours.

References

• NRA-ILA
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives