subject: The Ffls Needed For Different Roles In The Firearms Industry [print this page] The firearms industry is not just a place for manufacturers and distributors. There are a lot of roles that you can play in this industry, which is one of the reasons why it is so lucrative. However, the industry is also tightly controlled by the Gun Control Act, 1968, and several other state and local laws and regulations. If you want to enter this industry in the role that you are interested in, you need to get the right Federal Firearms License for it first.
For those of you who are unaware, a Federal Firearms License is necessary for any company or individual looking to manufacture, import, or sell guns and ammunition, and there are nine different types of FFLs that are available for application. Each role in the firearms industry requires a certain type of FFL for operating, and this classification is explained below.
Firearm and ammunition manufacturers need a Federal Firearms License to operate. Those manufacturers who make armor-piercing ammunition, ammunition for destructive devices, and destructive devices themselves need to get a Type 10 FFL license. If the manufacturer is not planning to make any destructive device, he/she can get a Type 7 license. Finally, a manufacturer planning to make ammunitions only for non-destructive firearms can get a Type 6 license. The Type 07 is very popular because it allows buying, selling, making, and assembly.
Gunsmiths are those firearms manufacturers who do not have a fixed place of business. Gunsmiths require a Type 1 license for modifying and repairing firearms.
Dealers are those companies or individuals that transfer or sell firearms. Anyone who does not deal with destructive devices can work with a Type 1 FFL. Dealers who do deal with destructive devices need a Type 9 FFL. If a dealer has a multiple locations for business, then each location requires its own FFL license.
Pawnbrokers need a Type 2 FFL in order to operate. This type is exclusively for pawnbrokers, and all pawnbrokers with a Federal Firearms License is obliged to perform background checks on their customers.
Collectors of antique firearms and guns need to get a Type 3 Federal Firearms License, which is also an exclusive type of FFL license for this purpose. A collectors FFL only covers curios and relics that are over 50 years old, and no other modern firearm. However, a license holder can conduct business across states.
Importers who get destructive devices need to get a Type 11 license, while all other importers of firearms and ammunitions can get a Type 8 FFL license.
