A federal firearms license come into effect after the Gun Control Act of 1968, the act made the license a requirement for single person or company to produce firearms, ammunition or to aid in the interstate or intrastate sell of firearms. There are 9 types of firearm licenses one can obtain. Type 1 is for dealers or gunsmiths, type 2 is for dealer who work as pawnbrokers, type 3 is for relic collectors, type 6 is for manufacturers of ammunition, type 7 is for the manufacturer of firearms, type 8 is for the importer of firearms, type 9 is for the dealer of firearms and destructive devices, type 10 is for the manufacturer of both firearms and ammunition, type 11 is the last type of license and is strictly for those you manufacture firearms, firearm ammunition, destructive devices and ammunition for the devices.
Federal Firearms License
There are many conditions and requirements one must meet in order to gain a federal firearms license. The person applying for the license must be at least 21 years old, they must not have violated any terms of the Gun control Act of 1968, they must not be prohibited from having possession of firearms or ammunition, they must not have lied in connection with the license and they must have a reason or business for the license.
If one meets the requirements and conditions they can apply for a federal firearms license. To apply, you fill out the ATF F 5310.12 form which includes information like birthday, social security, eye color, race, height and place of birth. Also required on the application are the person applying for the license’ fingerprints. Fingerprints must be taken by an official and the official must sign the application. The application is then sent to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, PO Box 409567 Atlanta, Georgia 30384-9567 USA.
Also needed sent in with the application is the ATF F 5330.20 Certification of Compliance and 2 FD–258 fingerprint cards for each person applying. 2 2″by2″ color photographs of each person applying for the federal firearms license is needed for the license to be approved. All forms can be downloaded and printed at http://www.atf.gov/firearms/how-to/become-an-ffl.html. The last thing one needs to send in to get the firearms license is the application fee. The fee varies by the different type of license you are pursuing. A collector only has a fee of $30 every 3 years whereas a manufacturer or important has a 3 year fee of $150 and pawnbrokers or dealers have a 3 year fee of $200. For type 8, 9, and 10 the fees rise dramatically. Since type 8, 9 and 10 deal with destructive devices the fee is $3,00 per year.
Federal Firearms License – The Conclusion
Getting the license is not an easy task, the forms are extensive and the fees are not inexpensive, and you are getting it from the government so there is a lot of red tape you have to get through before you can be licensed. In fact due to incomplete and misfiled applications approximately only 42% receive federal firearms license with their first application.
