I’m sure most of you guys feel passionate about both firearms and the interesting details/stories behind Gunsmithing. But, did you know that Gunsmithing and Gunbrokering (or dealing) go hand in hand? I’m sure you guys are interested in learning how you can become Gunbrokers or gun dealers yourselves. In today’s post, we will talk about how you can use Gunsmithing to become a Gunbroker in the modern day firearms market. That’s right. You can become a certified Gunbroker by simply leveraging those Gunsmithing skills you’ve been working on for so long. There are two sides to gaining this new career path: first of all, you’ll need to pass the required level of knowledge which you can do in school while you’re working on acquiring those Gunsmithing skills. Secondly, you must fulfill a few legal steps in order to become a certified Gunbroker.
Gunbroker Job Overview
Gunbrokers or gun dealers are people who are legally allowed to buy and sell firearms in bulk quantities. These dealers also sell firearms to the general public as well. In order to be a Gunbroker, the aspiring individual must first attain a very thorough knowledge of firearms. Then, he or she must complete a series of legal requirements to obtain professional certification. Being a Gunbroker is a position of high legal responsibility. The product being sold could end up in dangerous hands. Law enforcement wants to make sure that the salesman (or Gunbroker) knows exactly what steps to follow before selling a firearm to someone.
The educational requirements for the job can vary from secondary education skills to advanced specialized studies. Regardless of whether your studies include college level education or not, you should complete some courses from a certified Gunsmithing program in order to hold the basic knowledge of the job. Such courses can include seasonal choices in addition to any previous formal education levels you completed with secondary education being the minimum. They also include full-range bachelor and master’s level degree programs. You can find out more about your options for acquiring these necessary Gunsmithing skills by reading our post on the specialized Gunsmithing schools in the U.S.
Once you complete at least a few seasonal courses or a fully scaled study program at a certified school, you will pretty much possess all of the necessary knowledge needed to become a proper Gunbroker. A more prestigious school, such as the American Gunsmithing Institute, may provide you with additional points to compete with other candidates for quality job openings. According to recent statistics from November 2014, the average salary of a Gunbroker currently sits at $53,000*. Keep in mind, these salaries can increase pretty significantly if you become a product manager after gaining additional experience. On average, project managers in the Gunbrokering business earn about $118,000 per year.
How to Use Gunsmithing to Become a Gunbroker
Once you graduate from some Gunsmithing courses, you can join the ranks of fellow Gunbrokers by obtaining a work license from The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). After passing some tests, you will receive a Federal Firearms License. This license enables you to become a certified Gunbroker. Before you apply, you must make sure you complete some mandatory steps. First of all, applying for such a license is permitted to only people who are 21 years or older who possess a clear criminal track record. These people especially cannot have a history of violation of the Gun Control Act. Second of all, you must send a notarized letter by fax or email to your local sheriff’s department informing them that you will apply to the ATF in order to become a licensed gun dealer. You must also specify a location where you plan to conduct your business. If you still haven’t secured a future job, then it is fine to just declare your home as the gun dealership location.
Next, you must order ATF Form 7 from the ATF Distribution Center Form (online on their website). You still can’t download this document from the internet. However, it will be mailed to you shortly after. After you fill out this form and submit it, the remaining process of obtaining your certification should be pretty smooth. You will have to complete some additional paperwork.
All in all, we think becoming a certified Gunbroker is a wonderful and challenging way to turn your hobby into a career. On top of that, the job can be pretty lucrative if you’re talented enough.
*All figures presented are available by courtesy of Simply Hired.
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