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Dealer won't send FFL?

pcn
I have found the below info (at the end of this post) on the GB site, but the dealer I contacted said that the ATF had told them they could no longer send out a copy of their FFL.
However, I am under the impression that to follow the letter of the law I need a copy of the FFL. I can verify that they do in fact have an FFL by the first 3 digits (4-35) and last 5 digits (06130).
As an individual selling to an out of state buyer, do I need to have copy of the receiving dealer's FFL? Or will a copy of the EZCheck verification fulfill the requirement?
https://support.GunBroker.com/hc/en-us/articles/221970147-FFL-Dealer-Refusing-to-Provide-License
FFL requirements:
A physical, emailed or faxed copy of the Federal Firearms License (FFL) is required to verify the FFL is valid.
The name and address of the FFL dealer on the license is the only address which firearms may be shipped to. It is the only method the seller has to determine the proper shipping address for the item you purchased.
In addition, ATF policy states: a certified copy of the FFL is REQUIRED to complete any interstate firearm transaction. The ATF now accepts faxed or emailed copies of a certified FFL, but they recommend you verify the license using their online FFL EZ Check system prior to shipping an item:
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Comments

13 comments

Date Votes
  • tsavo303
    some dealers re idiots
    on of the i jut mailed the ez check
    another would not mail me his until i mailed mine first
    all thee azzhats makingthir own rules. life is hard enough
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  • toad67
    The ez check is fine, I've sent quite a few using that method. Quite a few dealers don't send a copy anymore due to fake ones being made. Don't worry about it.
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  • SCOUT5
    My receiving FFL e-mails a copy of his FFL straight to the seller. In the past they have been mailed. If the FFL will not send a copy tell the buyer they need to find another FFL to receive.
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  • mark christian
    Copies of FFLs, whether hard copies or sent electronically, are only required between licensees. We've covered this literally dozens times, yet no one seems willing to accept the regualtions. If you don't hold an FFL then the dealer is under no obligation to send you a copy of his own license. He need only provide you with the FFL number so that you can use the EZ Check System:

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    The third paragraph in the ATF letter is the operative paragraph:
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  • pcn
    Thanks for clarifying Mark Christian. I can see how the buyer would be concerned about someone using a fake license to get their money, but not really seeing why a dealer would hesitate to send their FFL, unless it is to prevent it from falling into the hands of someone who might alter it. But, it's not like there aren't hundreds, if not thousands, of authentic ones already in circulation so getting a legit one as a starting point isn't really that hard. I've never had a dealer refuse - I was surprised to find an uncooperative dealer.
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  • Ricci Wright
    I send out copies of our FFL almost every day but only to other FFL dealers not to individuals without FFL's. I will send them enough numbers to use the EZ Check which is sufficient.
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  • Locust Fork
    The big name outfits don't really have to worry about it, but a small dealer has to try to make sure their license is only going out to people that actually need it because there are some CRAZY people out there who will use their license for all kinds of crazy reasons.

    When I was working retail we had a regular customer that turned out to be a GIANT SCAMMER. I found this out when I got a call from someone wanting to return a gun to us. He got our number by looking up the store phone number because his gun was shipped with a copy of our FFL. I didn't sell him a gun. I didn't have ANY CLUE what this transaction was......then the guy said a familiar name to me. I asked him to send the gun to me. He did. I left it to Jimmy how he wanted to handle it (it was his FFL at the store).....I would have gone ballistic on this guy, but I stayed out of it.

    So, I somewhat understand how people get protective over how often and to who they give their FFL.
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  • Ricci Wright
    About ten years ago I had a guy order about twenty grand worth of guns to be transferred through our store without saying a word to me. These were guns I could have sold hiim. The dealer he ordered them from happened to have a copy of our FFL from another unrelated transaction. The guy acted like a real dick when I explained that he should have contacted me before just having guns delivered. Since he acted badly I hit him with a four hundred dollar transfer fee.
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  • MFI
    Ive been doing this for 30 years FFL Storefront the only people getting my license are dealers the gun is going to or from ..
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  • pcn
    Hi Locust Fork, it's odd, but the majority I've dealt with in the past have been small dealers. I guess I've just been lucky and gotten the easy going ones. Seems a little similar to the private sellers who won't send a copy of their driver's license because they're scared of big brother tracking them or something.
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  • grumpygy
    I go to mu FFL and he Faxs a copy out to the one I bought from. I never touch it.
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  • jwb267
    I have no problem sending a FFl. I do have a rubber stamp that shows COPY that I place on the FFl as well with a pen write copy through the number. In the case of receiving a firearm for someone else I write- FOR JOE JOHNSON G. B. AUCTION #12345 REMINGTON MODEL 760 30-06
    at the bottom of the ffl it is stated (I require a copy of a FFL or photo ID with shipment of firearm)
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  • pcn
    quote:Originally posted by jwb267
    I have no problem sending a FFl. I do have a rubber stamp that shows COPY that I place on the FFl as well with a pen write copy through the number. In the case of receiving a firearm for someone else I write- FOR JOE JOHNSON G. B. AUCTION #12345 REMINGTON MODEL 760 30-06
    at the bottom of the ffl it is stated (I require a copy of a FFL or photo ID with shipment of firearm)


    That's what the dealers who receive for me do as well.
    I'm not in the FFL business, but in business I am in it's all about making it "easy to do business with us".
    The ones who won't send a copy just fall into the same category as those who won't receive from an individual - I'll find another who wants the business and the $.
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