If you have an avid interest in firearms, rather than simply heading down to the gun range on a weekend, why not take your interest/passion, and earn a living from it instead? Here in the US, gun stores can be located up and down the country, but with the ever-increasing threat from terrorism, and much stricter gun laws, opening up your own gun store is not as easy as it once was. Now, whilst this is generally considered a good thing, it can obviously be very frustrating for avid gun enthusiasts looking to start their own gun shop business. To become a weapons dealer, first and foremost you will require an FFL license application, as an FFL license is vital. If you’re unsure about how to become an FFL weapons dealer, however, here’s a look at a few things you need to know in order to obtain an FFL license.
You must be of legal age – If you wish to pick up an FFL license application in order to obtain a federal firearms license, the first thing you need to know is that you must be of legal age, which is 21 years and above.
You must be honest about your personal record – In terms of how to become an FFL dealer, as you have probably guessed, government officials will pay very close attention to your personal record, so don’t you ever be tempted to lie about your past. If you have previous criminal convictions, this will actually not necessarily result in your FFL license application being turned down, as it all depends on what the convictions were for. Ideally, however, your record should be clean, but if it is not, you should never ever lie.
There are application fees – Like most things in life, if you wish to obtain an FFL, you will need to pay application fees. There are different FFLs to choose from, and each one will reflect the fees that you pay. Fees can be from $30 to $90. After three years you will need to renew for a further three years, which will cost $90. Also, if your application is rejected, you will get a full refund.
You will be visited by the ATF – Don’t worry, this isn’t as intimidating as it sounds, as it is very routine. The ATF will want to speak to you about your personal record, they will want to see your property, where you wish to operate from, plus they will ask all kinds of other questions, which must always be answered honestly.
There is a lot of paperwork – Starting a business of any kind can be tough enough, but as you will be dealing with guns, which are potentially very dangerous, you will have more paperwork to deal with than somebody opening up a small convenience store in his local neighborhood. There are many forms to fill out, so the best advice here is to not rush things and to take things day by day. In the end, it will all be worth it as you will have your very own business that helps keep people safe and helps them indulge their passions and hobbies.
