FFL123.com
 

www.ffl123.com

Found an ad for this website in a magazine this week and it got me thinking. I know that home-based FFLs have become very difficult, but this is something I might eventually be interested in. I also think it would be nice to have a Class III, but that seems like a seriously high set of hurdles.

Anyone know where I can find a reference on state and local laws related to FFLs? I think the biggest hurdle to an FFL or Class III would be the State of Illinois...

Also I believe a Class III gives the ATF the right to ring your doorbell any time - day or night - just to check up on your storage/security of such devices. Granted it probably doesn't happen (I had a former roommate with a Class III and they never knocked) but it sounds like they really could make your life a living hell if they wanted to.

Class III's grow on trees in AZ. They're way easier to get than a home-based FFL. All it takes is money. I'd be surprised if IL is that easy on class III's.

You can get all the info from the BATFE for free. And online, the BATFE has all the state gunlaws, etc. that you have to adhere to as well.

Biggest thing that is stopping "kitchen table FFLs" is business zoning. Gotta have all of that taken care of, otherwise it is a quick denial.

The guy I went through in VA was home-based and he was shut down two years ago because of a "sudden change" in zoning regs. That's how ATF does it now. They just deny you if you have the slightest local zoning reg. issues. Pretty sure just about everyone would have these issues if they were really looked into. I think most HOA's ban home-based businesses. Need a business license, OSHA compliance, ADA stuff, fire exit and on and on and on.

Sounds like a load of BS to me.

1) Who cares if you have a "kitchen-table" FFL? Plenty of people sell crap on eBay without a business license or the proper zoning, and they are not harassed.

2) Why does the ATF think it is in the business of enforcing state and local laws? I don't believe any federal agency has such authority.

The ebayers don't have a federal agency issuing them a license to do business (that said agency would rather not have being done) on ebay.

One of the conditions of having a FFL is "complying with all state and local laws and regulations". So if your state/county/city requires a business license and proper zoning, the BATFE will make sure you are in compliance before issuing said FFL.

Dude, what have you been smoking? ATF does whatever the hell it wants. It has put FFL's out of business for having 4473's on which buyers abbreviated AZ instead of writing Arizona. They don't want more kitchen table FFL's out there and they don't want the blame. So they base it all on local zoning regs now. Very common.

The worst thing about is that ATF is seemingly the only gov't. agency that wants you to turn a profit. In fact, absent a profit motive, your application will also get denied. They don't want gun nuts getting FFL's just for the purpose of getting good deals for themselves and their friends. They want you to make a business out it. That way they have more power over you. If it's just a hobby, you can just say "eff it" anytime you get tired of their BS, tear of up FFL, mail in your records book and you're done. But once it's your livelihood and you have a business running, you'll do whatever it takes to keep them off your back.

In "today's environment" having an FFL without a storefront is practically inviting a government-sponsored anal probe.

I'd recommend you go for a C&R and develop an antique spoon hobby instead.

Considering Illinois has some of the worst gun laws I find it odd that Illinois also has a huge number of gun manufacturers. How many of those manufacturers make class III weapons? Maybe I'm confusing Class III with NFA. Either way, R Guns is a Class III dealer and they're in Illinois.

I'd pay $1000 for someone to put their name on my FFL and take mine off.
Then on line 35 of the 4473 I could write "clerk" instead of "owner".
Jim