What are the new acceptable ways of sending an FFL license copy?

[clement1]

I have a question regarding the proper, acceptable, and BATFE approved methods of send an FFL license copy from one dealer to another. I can not find the section on their website (BATFE) that addresses this issue.

In the old days it was common practice to send an ink signed copy along with your funds from one FFL to another, especially when buying something from out of state.
Then it became acceptable for an FFL to merely fax a signed copy to the sending FFL for his logout proceedure.

I have heard that it is now acceptable to email a signed copy to the sending FFL dealer, since an email is nothing more than a scanned-in copy of an original much the same as a faxcimile copy is just a scan.

Can anyone here confirm the email method ??

Thanks.
Clement C.

 

[docnyt]

I've sent an emailed copy of my dealer's FFL before but I really didn't really pause to consider whether that was OK with the BATFE.

 

[clement1]

RE: Acceptable FFL sending

I contacted a large Gunbroker dealer, has a store in CT, and they accept emailed FFL's...seems to be quite OK. Would still like to find where on the BATFE website it addressed the issue.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've had the FFL I use e-mail his to many dealers...no problem at either end

 

[Tom488]

I remember reading a BATFE newsletter that they publish for FFL's a few years ago - and they did indeed approve both faxed and scanned/emailed copies.

Ah hah... found it:
http://www.atf.gov/publications/newsletters/ffl/ffl-newsletter-2007-01.pdf

 

[Thiokol]

The last time that I received an update from the BATFE it included a sheet indicating that emailed or faxed copies are acceptable.

 

[WardenWolf]

Keep in mind that the FFL number has to be run through the FFL Ez-Check database to verify it's valid anyway. There's multiple points of verification available here, not just the form itself. Firearms dealers often keep the information of major FFL's they've dealt with on file, and can thus ship without any paperwork required. All they have to do is verify that the license is still valid, and away it goes.

 

[Bubba613]

Keep in mind that the FFL number has to be run through the FFL Ez-Check database to verify it's valid anyway

No, there is no requirement to do such a thing. I do it anyway, just to be sure.

Frankly, with FFLEZcheck I wonder why you need a paper copy at all. The ATF's own database on its website will be more reliable than a piece of paper that can be photoshopped (and there are many cases of this). Just get the 5 numbers, verify them through EZ check and mark the FFL and numbers in the disposition part of the bound book. When ATF does its compliance inspection they will know whether it was a valid FFL on the date you logged the gun out.