How To Get A Federal Firearms License

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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) stipulates that if you engage in the business of buying and selling guns, you're required to obtain a Federal Firearms License (FFL). The process of obtaining one might seem intimidating, but it's actually straightforward as long as you meet some eligibility requirements. With a little bit of preparation and paperwork, you can easily get your Federal Firearms License in about 2 months.

1
Determine if you're eligible to get an FFL. If you regularly and repetitively buy or sell guns, either full-time or part-time, with the objective of making a profit or livelihood, you need to be licensed.^[1] To receive your Federal Firearms License (FFL), you must be at least 21 years old.
- Check the website of the ATF for further eligibility criteria.
- There are some exceptions in which you don't need an FFL. For instance, you don't need a license if you are liquidating a personal collection. Check the ATF website for more examples of situations in which you do and don't need a license: https://www.atf.gov/file/100871/download.^[2]
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3
Fill out Part A of ATF Form 7. Provide information about your business, including the name, address, and activities for which the FFL is required. Choose from 9 different types of FFL, which are described on the form. Certify that your business will meet all local, state, and federal regulations.^[5]
- The most common license type is Type 1, for Dealers in Firearms Other than Destructive Devices.^[6]
4
Complete Part B of the form, the Responsible Person Questionnaire. Enter personal information, such as your name, age, address, SSN, and physical description. Answer a series of yes or no questions determining your eligibility for an FFL, including whether you've ever been convicted of a crime.^[7]
- Each responsible person must fill out and sign a separate Part B questionnaire. A responsible person is defined by the ATF as anybody with the power to direct the management and policies of the business that is being licensed. If you are the sole proprietor of your business, you are the only responsible person. Each partner in a partnership counts as a responsible person. In an LLC, all of the 'managers' of the company are listed as responsible persons.^[8]
5
Get fingerprinted. Each ATF Form 7 must be accompanied by a Fingerprint Identification Card (FD-258). Order this card from the ATF Distribution Center online or by phoning (703) 870-7526. Take it to your local law enforcement authority, where your fingerprints will be stamped on it in black ink.^[9]
- Each responsible person on the license application needs to be fingerprinted.^[10]
- List "WVATF1100 ATF-FFLC, MARTINSBURG, WV" in the ORI block of the card.^[11]
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Include a photograph of yourself that is 2 by 2 inches (5.1 by 5.1 cm). The picture must have been taken within the last 6 months. Your whole face must be visible, in frontal view. Don't wear a hat or head covering. On the back of the picture, print your full name, the last 4 digits of your SSN, and the address of your business.^[12]
- Every responsible person listed on the application must include a photograph.^[13]
7
Send the appropriate fee with your application. Pay by check, credit card, or money order. The ATF will not accept cash or post-dated checks.^[14]
- The different types of FFL license range in cost from $30 to $3000 for 3 years. Type 1, the most common license type, costs $200.^[15]
- Make a copy of your entire application.
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Mail your application package to the ATF. Include your complete ATF Form 7, your Fingerprint Identification Card, your photograph, and your fee. Address the envelope to The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, P.O. Box 409567, Atlanta, GA 30384-9567.^[16]
9

Submit a copy of your application to your local CLEO. The Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) is the Chief of Police, Sheriff, or the equivalent in the place where the business seeking to be licensed is located. Mail it or drop it off in person.^[17]

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1

Wait for your background check to clear. After receiving your application, the Federal Firearms License Center (FFLC) will record the information in it and check it for correctness. They will run a background check on every responsible person listed in the application. When the background check clears, your application goes to your local ATF field office.^[18]
2
Prepare for an in-person interview. An Industry Operations Investigator (IOI) will be assigned to interview you. The IOI will call you and arrange a time to meet that works with both of your schedules.^[19]
- Ensure that your application information is correct and current. Be knowledgeable about federal, state, and local laws and requirements for your business.^[20]
- Make sure that your business premises, even if that's simply your home, meet ATF security regulations.The ATF requires that there be a lock on the entrance to your premises and a lock on the storage location of your firearms. While a gun safe isn't strictly necessary, it's a good idea to invest in one to make your application stronger.^[21]
3
Attend the interview at your business premises. The IOI will discuss federal, state, and local regulations in detail with you. The two of you will go through your application together to make sure that all the information in it is correct and current.^[22] The IOI will also inspect the premises of your business to ensure you meet safety standards for gun storage.
- The longest portion of the interview will likely be spent going over relevant laws and regulations.^[23]
- The IOI will prepare a report and make a recommendation to approve or deny the application.^[24]
4

Receive your FFL in the mail. If your application is approved, the FFLC will send your FFL to the premises of your business. You should get your FFL approximately 60 days after the ATF receives your completed application, though the process can sometimes take longer. Call the ATF for more information if it's taking a longer than usual amount of time to receive your license.^[25]

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Question

I am planning to acquire my FFL for a business from my home strictly to run background for others who purchase firearms. I won't have any kind of inventory or office. Will ATF issue an FFL this?

I use an FFL dealer for receiving firearms from internet gun retailers and auctions who does exactly what you are describing. He only does transfers for other individual buyers and charges $20 to receive a gun and complete the paperwork. He works out of his home although he does receive the guns at a location other than his home where he does not want deliveries dropped off every day.
Question

Are you required to obtain this to get a gunsmith certification?

You don't need one to learn how to gunsmith - but you would need one to practice as a gunsmith.
Question

Does admitting myself to a mental facility for depression disqualify me?

No. This only applies to those who were ordered by a judge in a court of law to be committed to a mental health institution.
Question

If I had charges expunged, will it affect me getting a federal firearms license?

Yes, a prior conviction is looked at as well as the expunged record.
Question

If I don't have a profitable business will I be able to buy and carry a firearm?

Yes. You do not need a business to buy or carry a firearm.
Question

I have a possession charge for marijuana that was dropped in court 10 years back. Will this disqualify me?

Normally restrictions are for felons. You have a misdemeanor, so it should be no problem. However, if your charge was for trafficking, it may go differently.
Question

Does being admitted to a mental health facility as a under-aged minor disqualify me?

It is difficult to answer because you haven't mentioned the specifics as to why you were admitted. Generally speaking, this is not something that will look good.
Question

I want to buy some guns online for personal use, do I need an FLL for this? I do not plan on selling, just obtaining.

You do not need an FFL to buy online. However, it has to be sent to an existing FFL, like a local pawn shop, and the proper transfer of the firearm will be conducted by them. You might have to have your FFL send their info to whatever website you plan on buying from before they will send it.
Question

Can I get a Federal Firearms License just for my personal use?

David Smith

Community Answer

The simple answer is NO. Taken directly from the ATF website: "To receive a license as a dealer (including pawnbrokers & gunsmiths), importer, or manufacturer of firearms, you must intend to engage in a firearms business." The ATF also specifically states you can NOT use it exclusively for personal use on the application form.
Question

Do I need this license to buy and sell guns online?

Yes, you need an FFL to deal in firearms on the internet.

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Contact your local and state governments, including law enforcement agencies, and notify them of your intent to apply for a Federal Firearms License. There are local zoning laws and state laws that must be met before you can operate under this license, and there may be forms you need to fill out on the state and local levels.

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You must renew your Federal Firearms License every 3 years to stay in compliance with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
If you have more than one business location, you must apply for a separate Federal Firearms License for each business location.
If your state prohibits you from doing business for any reason, you will not be granted a Federal Firearms License.

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To get your federal firearms license, you need to be at least 21 years old. To get started, download and complete the ATF form 7 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives website. You'll also need to order a fingerprint identification card and get fingerprinted by your local law enforcement authority. Also, include a 2 by 2 inch photograph of yourself and a check for the licensing fee, which can range from $30 to $3000 USD. Finally, mail your application and attachments to the ATF. For tips on how to prepare for your in-person interview, scroll down!

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