Arsenal Attorneys are exhibiting at the Fredericksburg Gun Show this weekend March 8-9. Our firm offers our Arsenal Gun Trust services in 36 states, and we offer a full range of legal services in the Virginia and Metropolitan Washington, DC area near our main office.  

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued an advisory letter on March 7, 2014 warning the public of internet scams directed at online gun shoppers. The scammers use a website to advertise exceptionally low prices for popular firearms, but then they fail to deliver the purchased goods. 

Note: For those inexperienced with firearms transfers, only licensed gun dealers, known as Federal Firearms Licensees ("FFLs"), may engage in commercial sales of firearms. Guns may not be purchased by mail order. Instead, an FFL may only sell a firearm after obeying all applicable local and federal laws, particularly completion of a background check of the buyer in person using the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). A buyer may purchase a gun from an out of state FFL; however that out of state FFL must transfer the firearm to an FFL located in the buyer's own state. Once the local FFL receives the firearm, that FFL must confirm the buyer's identification then complete a NICS check of the buyer. NICS check is conducted by using information provided by the buyer on Form 4473. After a NICS approval, the local FFL may then transfer the firearm to the buyer.  

The recent scams have collected money from buyers, but they have failed to ship any firearms. To avoid this problem, the public may use BATFE FFL eZ Check to verify the bona fides of an FFL. To do so, the buyer may request the FFL's basic license number. That number can then be verified by using the FFL eZ Check website: http://www.atf.gov/sites/default/files/assets/Firearms/FirearmsIndustry/030714-final-advisory-fraudulent-ffls.pdf. In obvious cases of fraud, no match is found for the number provided. When the FFL eZ Check does provide a match, all available identifying information for the FFL on record should be used to confirm the identity of the seller. 

Arsenal Attorneys previously became aware of the scams similar to the ones described in the ATF warning letter. It reminded us of the importance of dealing with a known FFL. Also, any well known, reputable FFL should have postive reviews available to read on the internet. Finally, any offer which seems too good to be true, probably isn't true. 

Today we received further proof of the continuing success of ATF eFile, the new, faster online processing system for tax stamps (approvals for the transfer or manufacture for firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act, e.g. silencers, short barrel rifles and machine guns). Two stamps issued today came 91 days from the date of submission--if you subtract the government shutdown, federal holidays, and the extraordinary number of snow days this winter.

While some people struggle to upload their NFA forms in the first place, once they are submitted, the system is working. It represents a giant improvement in the process for NFA firearms; however there is a catch. You may only use ATF eFile is you're using a legal entity like the Arsenal Gun Trust.

Besides the access to ATF eFile, the Arsenal Gun Trust enables you to skip red tape (fingerprints, mugshot, police sign off), permit possession by others, and create an estate plan for your entire gun collection (in most states). 

Arsenal Attorneys offers the Arsenal Gun Trust in 36 states. Contact us today to learn more.

Do you have one of those do-it-youself trusts?  Perhaps your gun dealer (unlawfully) prepared a trust for you. Or does your attorney ignore your calls when you have questions about the supposed 'gun trust' he sold you?

Many gun owners in these situations contact Arsenal Attorneys for help. We can review, amend, and upgrade your trust to become like one of our Arsenal Gun Trusts. Consequently it could be possible to coninue using your same trust. Thus you'd avoid the need to refile for new tax stamps, and there'd be no need to transfer your silencers, short barrel rifles or machine guns to a new trust.

Not all so-called 'gun trusts' are the same. Some are simply ordinary revocable trusts with no particular attention to the issues unique to firearms and the National Firearms Act (NFA). Even the many specialized gun trusts offered to the public lack crucial security and privacy features we believe are absolutely necessary in today's political climate.

Our Arsenal Gun Trust, tailored for your situation and state, emphasizes privacy, ease of use, and the safety of you and your loved ones who may one day possess or inherit your firearms. 

To learn more about our Arsenal Gun Trust services, contact Arsenal Attorneys to request our information packet.

Arsenal Attorneys' Managing Attorney, Matthew Bergstrom, wrote the below column concerning the trial of Oscar Pistorius for 'The Truth About Guns' blog.

Lessons from South Africa: The Blade-Runner’s Self-Defense Claim

By Matthew J. Bergstrom, Esq.

Despite its location in South Africa, another high profile shooting offers lessons for US gun owners. International Athlete, Oscar Pistorius, stands accused of murdering his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day 2013, and now we’ve had the opportunity to see his case presented in a South African courtroom this week. Pistorius, known as the “the Blade Runner—the fastest man with no legs,” claims he thought he was shooting an intruder in self-defense inside a bathroom in his home . . .