BATFE inspection tomorrow

[Mericet]

I guess our local BATFE agent is visiting the school tomorrow for an inspection. Hope all my fellow students made sure all their paperwork is in order. I know mine is..

[dhoward]

I find that if I make my entries as I am transacting, I stand a much better chance of being 100% compliant.

[on2wheels52]

I have learned to dread their visits.
A firearm organization has a folder on your rights during an inspection. I'll see if I can find a copy if you wish.
Jim

[dhoward]

Jim, do you get an annual compliance check?

[targa911S]

I just do my paperwork as soon as the job comes in or goes out. My book is a "repairs only" book that is in addition to the shops bound books. All my stuff gets returned to it's owners so at least I don't have to deal with any 4473 forms and state police registrations.

[ODDJOB UNO]

is this a "normal" visit? or is it what my FFL is experiencing, since "fast and furious" got their teets in a ringer here in az. my FFL is fed up with the crap. hes ready to call it quits. too much of a PITA to do what he has always done to the letter of the law.

his feelings are since holder and company BATF pulled this blunder ALLOWING spoons to be smuggled across border and the ensuent border agent being murdered by one of those spoons, this is the knee-jerk reaction or "we will show you!" type of response.


being a border state this IS A BIG DEAL!


i know for a fact that our states FFL holders of any class license has dwindled remarkably over the past few years.

spoon sales/service is turning into a very very difficult biz to make a living at. i personally think its DOJ and holder pissed off at our shurf joe for jerking them around.

[MotoSook]

Timely thread. I recently entertained the thought of getting a FFL since there is just one near me who will do transfers, and the guy is a little quirky and charges $35 for a simple transfer. I'm in an unincorporated part of the County less than 2 miles outside of town. I'd only need the Sheriff's blessing and I have a shop. So it should be a short process. What do you FFL's think? PITA? Or worth it as a side job?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by ODDJOB UNO

my FFL is fed up with the crap. hes ready to call it quits. too much of a PITA to do what he has always done to the letter of the law.

This is what they're counting on. I still wonder how BATF gets away with making FFLs dependent on local zoning laws and permits. If I were filthy rich, I'd spend my life suing them. But gun dealers and gunsmiths don't get rich in this business and losing their FFL can mean closing the business doors and forcinig them into another line of work. BATF has quite an efficient cycle of fear and intimidation working for them.

[dhoward]

I didn't have a problem with zoning laws. I don't have a storefront either. There are a lot of misconceptions about requirements. I did all of my local and state legwork first. Do a search for FFLs within you local area, if there are any at all, there is precedent for you to get one as well. HOA may be a different story

[dhoward]

And here in the Midwest, my BATFE field office has been more than helpful.

[ODDJOB UNO]

what i dont get is why DOJ/BATF is coming down on local FFL's. they didnt cause "fast and furious" and i cant tell you how many people i have spoke with that have mentioned this.


heres another one.............bank of america refused credit to mcmillian firearms due to them being a "firearms mfg." they had been banking with them for years.


and the kicker................they do builds for the u.s. gubbermint!



screw B of A!

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by dhoward

I didn't have a problem with zoning laws. I don't have a storefront either. There are a lot of misconceptions about requirements. I did all of my local and state legwork first. Do a search for FFLs within you local area, if there are any at all, there is precedent for you to get one as well. HOA may be a different story

But your FFL (and perhaps livelihood) shouldn't be dependent on local zoning laws. They have nothing to do with federal law and BATF has no authority to enforce local zoning laws. The FFL I used in VA was shut down by BATF because of this. He's a home builder in his day job, doesn't live in an HOA, has a single family house on some acreage, had no violations and, because of his day job, is pretty competent at dealing with city and county zoning regs. Turns out they had changed just as his renewal time came up.

The guy I use in Phoenix finally did open a storefront because he was pretty sure he'd get shut down if he remained home-based.

[Rick Lee]

I should add that I've had a lot of dealings with BATF folks in their HQ in DC, as they were a client of mine when I worked in our DC office. They were all great people to deal with and I often joked with the agents about hooking me up with a fast-tracked tax stamp or home-based FFL. They were all very cool. But personalities aside, they are a rogue agency with way, way too much authority to make up regs outside the legislative process.

[dhoward]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

But your FFL (and perhaps livelihood) shouldn't be dependent on local zoning laws. They have nothing to do with federal law and BATF has no authority to enforce local zoning laws. The FFL I used in VA was shut down by BATF because of this. He's a home builder in his day job, doesn't live in an HOA, has a single family house on some acreage, had no violations and, because of his day job, is pretty competent at dealing with city and county zoning regs. Turns out they had changed just as his renewal time came up.

The guy I use in Phoenix finally did open a storefront because he was pretty sure he'd get shut down if he remained home-based.

Well, truthfully, zoning laws are in place for a reason. I can't open an Auto shop in my subdivision, nor can I expand my business to more foot traffic, without petitioning for rezoning or moving. My choices would be to move my business, rework my business model to more internet-only, or shut down. I don't feel like that's too much of a burden.
The ATF requirement is to comply with all local and state laws.

[dhoward]

Originally Posted by rick lee

i should add that i've had a lot of dealings with batf folks in their hq in dc, as they were a client of mine when i worked in our dc office. They were all great people to deal with and i often joked with the agents about hooking me up with a fast-tracked tax stamp or home-based ffl. They were all very cool. But personalities aside, they are a rogue agency with way, way too much authority to make up regs outside the legislative process.

+100

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by dhoward

The ATF requirement is to comply with all local and state laws.

This is the problem - not the zoning laws. BATF has no such authority, but decided to grant it to itself about six yrs. ago. Everyone agrees zoning laws have some purpose. That's not BATF's issue to decide.

[on2wheels52]

Originally Posted by dhoward

Jim, do you get an annual compliance check?

I had two checks in the first 20 years, then then three out of the last four. I expect them every year. I didn't have any trouble with the license renewal this year but it may be the last time I do (I'll be 63 then). Anyone want to buy a pawnshop in three years?
Jim

[legion]

Here's a pro tip: warm the lube in the microwave for 2-3 seconds. It makes the inspection much less painful.

[cashflyer]

I remember my fist ATF raid.

... er.. "inspection".

[Mericet]

Well, the inspection is over. No news on the result yet.

For us the situation is a little different than most FFL's as it is a school and all the firearms belong (or is checked in by) the students. It seems there was a discrepancy in the last visit about a year ago and this is a follow up visit. Was not too bad. She just wanted to verify what we had corresponded with the repair book. Quite a few students just checked their stuff out yesterday and will return it tomorrow.