Before I got my federal firearms license, I was pretty confident that I knew everything I needed to know about the process. What forms to fill out, what answers to use for those really tricky questions, what type of license I planned to get, and so on. But after I started the application process, it began to dawn on me just how little I really did know about it. And it wasn't that I was just flying blindly into the process of applying for my FFL. I was certain that I'd properly researched the process of applying for one. I'd dotted all the I's, and crossed all the t's. That is until I found a whole bunch of them that I didn't even know existed!

The moral to my story is that no matter how prepared you think you are, it's almost guaranteed that something in the application process of obtaining your federal firearms license will screw you up.

The requirements and regulations related to the application process are, in typical government fashion, almost impossible to understand. Regardless of what you THINK you know, there will be parts of the application that, even though it makes sense to you to answer them a certain way, the correct the correct way won't be what you think it is.

So what should you do? The first thing you need to do is your homework. Read as much as you can about the process. There are a HUGE amount of guidelines that are provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. You should at least familiarize yourself with the terminology in these laws. It'll help you tremendously later on.

Now once you look at that page and see just how involved the process is, you'll realize that the act of applying for your federal firearms license is not for the faint of heart. Keep in mind too that if you fail to properly apply for your license, you can run the risk of jeopardizing your license for years to come. Failure to answer the questions properly, or answering them incorrectly, or missing information are some of the most common mistakes people make when applying for their license. Unfortunately, doing this can add years to your application process.

One other point to consider is that the legal right to get your firearms license is something that may not always be available. Without being too alarmist, the current political administration is one of the most gun-unfriendly administrations in years. From some of president obama's previous statements, it seems as though he'd like nothing more than to outlaw all weapons. Apparently, he must have taken a page from the Ted Kennedy school of rich liberals and feels that personal protections is something we don't need in our perfect nation. Obviously, he's not living in the same country that we are. As has been throughout history, the second amendment is always being attacked, and will probably continue to be threatened forever.

So what should you do? First of all, do your homework. There are some very informative sites out there. Here are a couple. How to Get your Federal Firearms License has a lot of good information that's updated with current news and information. Here's another great site with a lot of information on how to get your Federal Firearms License.

Once you realize the complexities involved with obtaining your FFL, you'll probably wish there were an easier way to get it. Well, you're in luck. You can get all the help you need and take as long as you need. And the best part is that the help comes from licensed firearms dealers that have been helping people obtain their licenses for years. There isn't any question that they haven't heard, or that they can't help you answer on your own application. It's probably the easiest and least stressful way you'll find to apply for your license. So why jeopardize your application? Get some professional guidance, and get your Federal Firearms License the first time you apply without the hassle and worry.

So remember, even though the right to bear arms is given to us by the constitution, it doesn't mean that misguided, ill-informed politicians can't pass even more restrictive legislation that erodes our gun ownership rights even further. For evidence of this, see the gun control act of 1968, The national firearms act of 1934, or the assualt weapons ban of 1994. As unfortunate as it is, time IS of the essence. Act now before it's too late