ATF Inspection

[Gatorbaiter]

Has anyone here with a C&R license had an ATF inspection? I got a call today from an ATF agent who is coming out tomorrow to inspect my bound book. I would like to hear about anyones experience with this, and what to expect.
Th

 

[Rikkn]

Never heard of that happening Gator.......... They are onto you !!
Have a fresh pot of coffee on.
Good luck, and let us know what happens.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I would call your local BATFE office to make certain that he is actually an agent and not someone that says he is just to gain entry and rob you. If they say he isn't an agent in your neighborhood, something is fishy in Denmark.

You can't be too careful.

 

[Forester]

I would call your local BATFE office to make certain that he is actually an agent and not someone that says he is just to gain entry and rob you. If they say he isn't an agent in your neighborhood, something is fishy in Denmark.

You can't be too careful.

I agree with Andy. It will only take a few minutes to confirm the appointment. Time well spent.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Get a physical description of the agent too, just to make certain- just tell them you are wary of anyone just calling out of the blue and wanted to verify that it wasn't some criminal posing as an agent or something. Hey, it's not likely, but plausible.

Of course, if the agent picks up the phone at the office, that kind of takes care of itself, doesn't it?

 

[Thiokol]

I know of several C&R holders who were notified of an inspection right after they sent in their renewal application.

 

[Vegetaman]

I agree, doublecheck with the BATFE to make sure it's legit (which it probably is).

 

[straightshooter1]

If this guy is legit...

then, given what Thiokol said about knowing others who have been subject to an inspection, our friends at ATF seem to have had a policy change.

In the past, and I have talked to guys from that agency, they generally (operative word is generally) only inspected C&Rs when they came to the agency's attention in some manner-reportedly engaging in the "business," a large number of "multiples" or having an interaction with law enforcement such as with a stolen firearm.

It would interest me to know if there is a new policy or directive involving C&Rs-perhaps you can ask the agent when he comes if you have the opportunity to do so.

I did notice two new questions when I renewed last year-how many guns did you acquire and how many did you sell?

Perhaps the answer to these questions may trigger such a visit.

Bob

 

[2152hq]

03 C&R FFL's were always open to a compliance check though it was a rarity for a C&R Licencee to ever be subjected to one.

That has changed of late and 03's are being scheduled for compliance check visits just like other FFL class holders.

Not a big deal but can take up some time.
Have your books in order, paperwork straight, everything available and at hand for inspection. It's what was agreed to when applying for and being granted a licence.

At least they call first and make an appointment since the 03 is not 'in business'. You get a heads up that way and can get things in order for the standard compliance visit. They don't have to do that with a visit to a dealer FFL and sometimes they just show up.

 

[TXSWFAN]

Hide your dog.

 

[Alpo]

If someone called me and said they were ATF and were coming to inspect my bound book, I would be suspicious. I'm not a CRUFFL, and don't have a bound book.

My point is, if this guy isn't ATF, how does he know that Gatorbaiter has a bound book to inspect? Doesn't seem like something your average everyday gun thief would be aware of.

 

[km5wu]

Don't we still have the option to meet the inspectors at their office with the bound book, or have the rules changed? Would we need to bring all the guns as well? I've never been inspected yet, (I'm due for renewal in six months) but the local office is a 200 mile round trip so that wouldn't be much of an option for me. Just asking.

Paul

 

[84CJ]

I was at a local shop when an ATF agent stopped by. Do they not have weight standards. This guy was huge and got winded just getting in the door. He was nice and didn't interrupt the business,but he looked out of place with the ATF attire and badge tucked under his belly roll.

 

[ladder13]

I had an ATF agent visit my house when I first received(actually before)my C&R license.The agent was cordial and professional. I've since renewed twice, and neither time was even contacted.

 

[Revoman]

I've never been inspected but I've only bought five guns with my C&R in twelve years.

I have a friend who's bought close to fifty in the same time frame and he was inspected go figure.

Now on another forum I've read were border states C&R holders are being inspected to keep the Mexican Government happy.

Don't know if you've sent up a red flag or have a agent with nothing better to do.

If your books are in order don't worry about it. From what I understand he should only look at your books not your collection.

 

[2152hq]

Sometimes they have called first before the compliance check, a few times they've just showed up. They have always showed ID and insisted that I look at it to verify, not just take a quick glance. Not that you can't fake an ID,,,,,
They've always been courteous.
When they did call in advance, the Agent always left his office extension # and the District office # for a call back if I wanted to verify or if there was a schedule problem and had to reschedule. The last time he gave me his cell# too.

Or just look up the District Office #, call and ask for the Agent by name to verify. Nothing wrong with that. Security is part of the spiel they'll give you anyway.

 

[EdnAZ]

Just to "clarify" to everyone, it is extremely unlikely that anyone has been inspected by an "Agent". The inspections are generally done by what are now entitled "Industry Operations Investigators" or IOI's.

If an ATF Special Agent is inspecting your C&R book then, I can assure you, that you have very big legal problems ahead of you.

 

[BigG-n-Tn]

I'd just as soon do without the C&R and the hassle. I know folks who've let them lapse on purpose. There may not be any rhyme or reason to it. I WOULD confirm credentials PRIOR to arrival though.

 

[Denver Dick]

I just renewed and got the renewed license in the mail a couple days ago. This is my second renewal. Knock on wood, no inspection yet.

By the way, straightshooter1 wrote:

I did notice two new questions when I renewed last year-how many guns did you acquire and how many did you sell?

Those questions were on my 2006 renewal form and on the one I sent in this past July. I'm not sure when they began asking the questions, but I'm sure if you wrote down something about acquiring 40 firearms and disposing of 40 firearms, they might want to check out whether or not "dealing" was going on . . .

 

[Gatorbaiter]

Post Inspection Report

Well, I can sleep easy tonight, everything went smoothly.

I renewed my C&R license in June and one of the questions on the renewal form is: "How many transactions have you recorded in the past three years?" I was truthful and answered 50. That raised a red flag and was what precipitated my "compliance inspection". They were checking to see if I was "dealing in firearms on my C&R license".

The agent said that they normally do not "fool with" C&R licensees, and I was the first one he was aware of that had been checked in the Houston area. All due to my being honest about my recorded transactions. When I explained that my large volume was due to a change in collector interest, and that had I sold most of my large Luger collection to buy Colt Single Actions and engraved pistols, he was very understanding, and said that it looked like a legitimate reason to him.

The Agents official title is: "Industry Operations Investigator". He was very nice, polite and co-orperative. I had layed out my C&R guns on the coffee table, and as I picked one up and called out the SN, he looked it up in the book and checked it off. After we had accounted for the guns, he looked over the recorded entries and gave them a passing grade. And, apparantly a loose leaf notebook type of "bound book" is ok, as he made no comment about mine.