All of the bricks-and-mortar retail sector is in trouble, thanks to the Internet. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.
Yes indeed. All and all, it is a net positive to the consumer. More choice, better pricing, less hassle, etc.
Local gun shops are a special case, in that the FFL system insures them a certain protected monopoly.
True. GCA68 is nearly a half century old now and it is one reason why transfers are still a factor. I'd wager if it went away, or at least the Interstate transfer requirements, most LGS would go the way of Blockbuster Video, Waldenbooks, et al. Most certainly not all, particularly those that had
other offerings (e.g., a range, a competent gunsmith, etc.).
Poor business practices put a lot of shops out of business.
Indeed. I'd say about 9 out of 10 LGS I've dealt with over the decades were varying degrees of terrible. I honestly would prefer to buy locally, but like any other establishment, they're going to have to earn my business. Candidly, with few exception, I don't even bother now. Instead I do all the homework on a potential acquisition, buy said for the best price on the web, transfer through a kitchen-table FFL, and done.
Being that ATF is prohibited by law from conducting a compliance inspection more than once a year and that the typical FFL doesn't get inspected but about every 4-5 years.........that isn't really a problem.
I believe it. One of the local FFLs claims he hasn't been inspected in over 12 years. When I had a 03FFL (C&R), I was only inspected a single time.
