5whiskey said:
I would want to see their math to figure out how they come up with an extra $150.00 to $300.00 per gun in regulatory fees. Sincerely, before I believe the sensationalism and start screaming "they're coming for the guns." I just want to see specifics in the bill, and the math used by the opponents, that will increase the cost of business this much.
After casually reading the bill, I speculate that the $150-$300 figure is based on the costs that a very small-volume dealer (<100 sales annually) would incur to install the required video-surveillance system and "appropriate security measures, as provided by rule, to deter and prevent the theft of firearms and unauthorized entrance into areas containing firearms..." The rule hasn't been written yet, but let's presume the requirement is something like high-quality safes bolted to the floor, which could be quite costly.
Some of what's written in the ILSA email strikes me as shrill hyperbole, but don't dismiss it completely—this bill DOES seem to be deliberately written to make things VERY difficult for anyone wishing to open a low-volume transfer-oriented FFL business, and particularly a home-based one.
The bill requires a video-surveillance system "sufficient to monitor the critical areas of the business premises, including, but not limited to, all places where firearms are stored, handled, sold, transferred, or carried," in addition to the vague (and therefore potentially onerous) storage requirement I quote above; would YOU want motion-sensing video cameras that record 24/7 installed throughout your house?
In order to be licensed, a person must have "a minimum of one year of experience, with a minimum of 100 hours per year, during the 5 years immediately preceding the application: (i) as a dealership agent under this Act; or (ii) as a federal firearms dealer... or an employee of the business who had access to firearms." IOW you wouldn't be able to obtain a license unless you had previously worked
professionally in a firearms business for at least a year, regardless of how skilled you are in other trades and/or how clean your criminal record is. Furthermore, the licensee will be required to undergo continuing education.
The bill also contains fairly complex record-keeping and vague "To Be Determined" training requirements with regards to so-called "dealership agents"; hence, I presume that you couldn't ask your buddy to watch your table at the gun show, unless you first permanently record a bunch of his personal information AND put him through the detailed IL training regimen.
Did I mention the non-discrimination clause?
In short, I'm seeing a bunch of stuff that wouldn't be a major problem for a full-blown gun-dealing business with a permanent and public 10,000+ SF location and 20± employees, as many such businesses are doing most of this stuff anyway (and the owner likely has an experienced firearms attorney on speed-dial).
The main issue, as I see it, is that it's going to SERIOUSLY discourage enthusiasts from opening small-volume "kitchen table" operations.
