08/10/2026
Trump's Proposal to Allow Guns to be Shipped Straight to Buyers Is NOT the Win You Think it is.
So I know what you’re probably thinking, “Of course, you wouldn’t be for this change, you’re an FFL dealer and it will hurt your business.”
This is not entirely untrue; this change is predicted to hurt many MANY small-town gun dealers and close down many small businesses, because an estimated 50%-70% of buyers will automatically go online for purchases. This in itself should be a concern for communities for many reasons, but our objection goes far beyond this.
Bear in mind, our business is ran by a diehard conservative and an aggressive libertarian. For us, 2nd Amendment rights are a priority over profits because we want to create a world where our sons and daughters will have greater gun rights than we did. So, when we say this proposal concerns us, your ears should perk up and interest be awakened.
The question everyone seems to ask when they hear about this proposal is the 4473 form. What about those? Would they be omitted from the gun purchase process?
Sadly, no.
Instead of filling it out when you go to pick up your transfer from your FFL dealer, you will be completing it online at the time of your firearm purchase. This process will also include snapping a picture of your driver’s license for their records and typing in your own information for the background check.
This is all well and fun, as anyone who has ever purchased a firearm knows this is exactly what an FFL dealer does when you go to pick up a transfer. They give you your form to fill out, scan your driver’s license, and do a quick background check before they take your money for their troubles. So, this is basically self-service, right?...right?
Well not so fast, it’s after you push “submit” that things get concerning.
When you buy a firearm from an FFL dealer or pick up a transfer, they print your form 4473, and file it away. There it sits in storage and is left undisturbed unless the ATF specifically audits that dealer out of suspicion that they are making under-the-counter gun sales. It serves as a link between the fi****ms they acquired and the sales so they can prove they never sold a gun to anyone who couldn’t pass a background check. What it does NOT do is create a registry where each individual can be looked up and paired with what fi****ms they own.
Why is this relevant?
Because before shipping your firearm, the online seller does one extra step that the FFL does not do; inform your local law enforcement of your purchase.
Every time you buy a gun online and have it directly shipped to your home, your local PD or SO will get an email stating who purchased what firearm, where it is going to be delivered, and when. They will then wait a week to ensure they get the memo before shipping it.
Get that? Someone will literally report it to the police every time you buy a gun.
This should be a major concern to everyone who believes in a citizen’s right to privacy. As much of a concern as flock cameras or the Patriot Act.
Now, don’t get me wrong, anyone who has spent more than 5 minutes with us know full well that we support our police, and anyone who has carried a firearm in our community knows that the cops here are very respectful of our 2nd Amendment Rights. But this is not only about our cops and our community, it is about the cops and communities throughout our entire nation, many of which are not as firearm friendly as ours (those who are currently living here after joining the Blue State Exodus know what I am talking about).
There is little doubt in my mind that our local police would receive such an email, shrug, and press delete. But what about others? Think of states like Virigina which just enacted an unconstitutional “assault weapons” ban, or New York which has a long history of harassing legal firearm owners? How do you think this will work out in those states?
But our biggest concern is that this is a direct step towards creating a federal gun registry database. The local FFLs will not be able to compete with the enormous online retailers and be driven out of business, now the buyers HAVE to buy online and have their guns shipped to their homes, so now all firearm purchases are being reported to police agencies. When that happens it will only take a left leaning president who does not respect our 2nd Amendment rights to start the process of requiring police agencies to file this information, and create a gun registry stating who owns what fi****ms and where.
If this new rule is approved it might begin as a great convenience for buyers who prefer to shop online, but I fear it is an inconspicuous step towards greater surveillance and a new stepping stone on the path towards gun control.
Are we overthinking this, or are our concerns legit? Comment below.
