Welcome to a new era, folks. The era of drive-up gun purchases!
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ubiquitous social-distancing guidelines that have been instituted in response to the novel coronavirus, gun dealers have to change the way they do business to help slow the spread and “flatten the curve.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has decided, in a recent industry letter (see below), to allow FFLs to conduct drive-up or walk-up transfers provided they happen on the store owner’s property and in accordance with state and local laws.
“An FFL may carry out the requested activities through a drive-up or walk-up window or doorway where the customer is on the licensee’s property on the exterior of the brick-and-mortar structure at the address listed on the license,” said ATF in the letter dated April 10, 2020 (see letter below).
“An FFL may also carry out the requested activities from a temporary table or booth located in a parking lot or other exterior location on the licensee’s property at the address listed on the license, but any such activities must occur in a location where the licensee has the authority to permit ATF’s entry for inspection purposes,” it continued.
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ATF says that gun dealers should exercise caution when selling outdoors and keep the bulk of their inventory and documents (Form 4473s) in the brick-and-mortar structure.
Gun dealers cannot sell on nearby property or space that isn’t listed on the FFLs license unless it’s at an in-state gun show or related event, adds the ATF. Simply put, gun shops can sell their wares outdoors so long as they do so on their property.
This letter comes on the heels of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) decision to include the gun industry on its list of “critical infrastructure,” a move that the anti-gun lobby found repulsive.
“It is both shameful and nonsensical for the federal government to deem gun stores essential, a special privilege that millions of other shuttered small businesses can only dream about,” wrote John Feinblatt, the president of Everytown for Gun Safety, in a CNN Op-Ed.
“The argument for keeping grocery stores and pharmacies open during a pandemic is self-evident,” Feinblatt continued. “People need to be able to access food and medication in order to preserve public health, so it’s worth the risk of allowing people to congregate — while observing social distancing… This calculus clearly doesn’t apply to firearm sales.”
Well, maybe now that the ATF has green-lit drive-up gun purchases to hew to social distancing recommendations, Everytown can quit its caterwauling. Or maybe this will just enrage the Bloomberg-funded group all the more. Either way, who gives a rip. Gun stores are open for business — as they should be.
The All Tyrannical Flunkies do not have any authority to regulate anything. @#$# the ATF! America better stand up before it’s too late and stop recognizing those who think they have power over you when they Do Not! “We Te People” is there for a good reason!
The TYRANTS are so kind!
Did anything really change? At my FFL, I have always been able to do a transfer at my kitchen table, in my garage, on my patio, anywhere at the address on my license. What is allowed now that was not allowed before? I don’t see any difference, yet the BATFE are now compassionate heros. Send them a trophy.
Frank, what part of “shall not be infringed” do you not understand?
EXACTLY!!!
Got an “appointment” today at the gun shop….we’ll see how this works
I have to agree — gun stores are not “essential” and should be closed. Firing ranges as well. This is a pandemic, not the end of the world. Reducing personal contact is the goal, not controlling gun sales. There will be a lot of panic buyers (why we have an artificial shortage of toilet paper and other things!), but if you ever felt like you needed or wanted a gun for self protection you should have had one already, and some ammo. Putting a gun in the hands of someone who feels like they should have one at the last minute without time and facilities to properly learn to use it isn’t a good idea.
Gun stores aren’t being closed in most states simply because of the 2nd Amendment, not that they are “essential”, but because of the constitution. While I can’t/won’t argue that isn’t a good reason, gun control has nothing to do with the “essential” (or not) classification. I thought it was silly to allow liquor stores to stay open as well, but a local distributor (and confirmed by a nurse I know) said that alcohol withdrawals from alcoholics would fill hospitals as much as the pandemic if they couldn’t get something stronger than beer and wine — alcohol withdrawals from quitting cold turkey are some of the worse of any addiction. So to keep them from further taxing the medical structure, the liquor stores stay open…
Well I disagree Frank! Guns and ammo should always be available. The majority of the problems are in the cities and I don’t think a gun store would ever be as crowded as a grocery store. Either way the customers could be limited. As for shooting ranges, they would be one of the safest places you could be! Either outside or the indoor ones have airflow downrange that would keep everyone safe. I still think they should only quarantine the at risk people and let the rest decide for themselves.
Well stated James!!!
Frank, you need to read with understanding the 10th amendment and let it soak in. The ATF, among many other godvernment agencies Do Not have any authority to make any regulations or laws, Period!