The Gun Control Act specifically defines a dealer as any person who is engaged in the business of selling firearms at wholesale or retail, repairing firearms or making or fitting special barrels, stocks, or trigger mechanisms to firearms or who is a pawnbroker. You may wonder what “engaged” in business actually means. It simply is defined as a “person who devotes time, attention, and labor to dealing in firearms as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of obtaining livelihood through repetitive purchase and resale of firearms.” If you fit this description, then you are on your way to obtaining a Federal Firearms License.

There are some specific things you will need to do before sending in your completed application. You also must meet requirements that apply specifically to you and your business. The requirements basically pertain to age (You must be at least 21 years old.), crime (You cannot have been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year, a fugitive, a substance abuse user, an illegal alien, mentally ill, etc.), law (You have not willfully violated Federal firearms law.), truthfulness (You application is true to the best of your knowledge.), and business conditions (Your place of business must follow Federal and state firearms guidelines.). Complete definition of these requirements can be found on many online websites or you can contact the BATFE regional office nearest you.

Once your application is completed, you will need to send it to your regional BATFE office. You will also need to send the appropriate fee, a photo ID and fingerprints obtained from a law enforcement agency. It really is not difficult to obtain an FFL if you follow step-by-step instructions and adhere to Federal firearms license requirements.