faxed copy of FFL now okay for transfer

[gunssb]

for dealer to dealer transfer - this is what I found out from impactguns.com:

'The ATF has recently changed their interpretation of the laws regarding the transfer of firearms between dealers. It is now legal to ship a firearm to another dealer after receipt of a faxed or scanned signed copy of the receiving dealer's license. This was confirmed verbally by the owners of Impact Guns directly with 3 agents at the 2005 Shot Show, and written confirmation from the BATFE will be received by all dealers this year."

I expect a lot of dealers would still want to wait under they get the letter from ATF, but thought it's interesting...might help some of us out if you don't have a FFL on file but need to order something right away.

[Shaun]

ONly with a letter expressly from the ATF would I ever do the transfer so that I am not held in an unlawful sale

[BattleRifleG3]

Actually I believe they haven't absolutely needed the FFL on file, but needed to confirm the license number and address online at the ATF site.

I know I've read that quite a bit, whether or not it's correct. It's legal to ship dealer to dealer as long as you know that it's an actual dealer for sure. Having an ink signed FFL is just the most sure way to do that, but even so I think they were supposed to verify online or by phone or something.

[gunssb]

yes, I don't think the law has changed but it must be that a lot of people were asking if a signed copy is required so they might send that official letter to clarify...

[colt45]

we where told at teh shop by the atf that every firearm shipped into our shop had to have a ink signed copy of an FFL or we had to have one on file allready. we have not been notified of any changes as to a faxed or scanned copy as of yet. but from what we where told if you didn't have one on file it had to be acompanied by and ink signed copy and that just knowing the number was not good enough as it had to be kept with the files for 30 years along with the transaction paper work. if this is true we would love to have atf confirmation. would save alot of time waiting for snail mail, we have started selling on guns america and the waiting is what takes the longest to ship the guns out.

[EOD Guy]

Originally Posted by colt45

we where told at teh shop by the atf that every firearm shipped into our shop had to have a ink signed copy of an FFL or we had to have one on file allready. we have not been notified of any changes as to a faxed or scanned copy as of yet. but from what we where told if you didn't have one on file it had to be acompanied by and ink signed copy and that just knowing the number was not good enough as it had to be kept with the files for 30 years along with the transaction paper work. if this is true we would love to have atf confirmation. would save alot of time waiting for snail mail, we have started selling on guns america and the waiting is what takes the longest to ship the guns out.

I don't know about state law but, as far as Federal law is concerned that is absolutely untrue. There is no requirement in Federal law that a receiving dealer has to have a certified copy of a shipper's FFL. A shipping licensee is the one who needs a certified copy of the receiving dealer's FFL.

See 27CFR 478.94.

[colt45]

Originally Posted by EOD Guy

I don't know about state law but, as far as Federal law is concerned that is absolutely untrue. There is no requirement in Federal law that a receiving dealer has to have a certified copy of a shipper's FFL. A shipping licensee is the one who needs a certified copy of the receiving dealer's FFL.

See 27CFR 478.94.

well you can argue that with the atf, when we took over the shop 4 years ago thats what we where told in writing. i don't pretend to be a law expert or an atf agent. just telling you what we have been notified of. all i know is nothing goes out or comes in that we don't have a ink signed ffl for.or doesn't come from one of our whole salers.
when i called buffalo on this on wen. they knew nothing about it, said they would check and get back to us.

[gunssb]

I believe the problem might be with your local ATF office - a lot of them aren't well-informed/interpret things differently, which is why like others said it's best to wait for that letter if it's coming - I just thought it might be interesting info for some of us. For example, I've heard stories of ill-informed ATF agents annoying C&R holders because there were none/too few in their area and they usually only dealt with 01 FFLs.

[Troy]

now open