Josh Sugarmann, Federally Licensed as a Gun Dealer

I wouldn't have believed it. In fact, I didn't believe it. So, I went to the ATF myself to check it out.

It's true, Josh Sugarmann, Executive Director of the Violence Policy Center, formerly with the National Center to Ban Handguns, holds a federal license for gun dealing.

I saw this first on Dave Hardy's site, Arms & The Law, which is always well worth reading. While I trust Dave implicitly, Dave didn't list a source and I didn't want to find myself chasing an Internet legend. So, off to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms did I go. A short search later and voila:

Here is a copy of Mr. Sugarmann's very own personal Federal Firearms (Dealers) License, registered to the same address as the headquarters for Violence Policy Center in Washington, D. C.

For years, FFL's have been difficult to get and expensive and difficult to keep. They generally require some sort of proof that the holder is actually in the business. If memory serves, they also require proof of compliance with local ordinances and zoning rules. Given the address on Rhode Island Avenue, NW in Washington, DC, it's difficult to imagine how Mr. Sugarmann could be complying.

Past that, of course, it's just plain strange that the leader of one of the most virulent anti-gun groups, one heavily financed by the Joyce Foundation, would align himself with the 60,000 gun dealers in the country.

Strange. Very strange.

UPDATE and BUMP: According to NRA-ILA, among other requirements,

To be eligible to obtain an FFL, a person must meet the following requirements:

5. Has in a State premises from which he conducts or intends to conduct business (a business or home as long as it is a permanent structure.) The business must be open to the clientele designated by the licensee to be served;

6. Certifies that (a) "the business to be conducted under the license is not prohibited by State or local law in the place where the licensed premise is located;" (b) "within 30 days after the application is approved the business will comply with the requirements of State and local law applicable to the conduct of the business;" (c) "the business will not be conducted under the license until the requirements of State and local law applicable to the business have been met;" (d) "the applicant has sent or delivered a form to be prescribed by the Secretary, to the chief law enforcement officer of the locality in which the premises are located, which indicates that the applicant intends to apply for a Federal firearms license;" and (e) "the business will not be conducted under the license until the requirements of State and local laws are met," including local zoning ordinances.

The first three words are interesting, "Has in a State…" So far, all the databases that I've checked are similar in one respect in that none list FFL dealers in the District of Columbia. Makes sense given that handguns are banned and long guns must be disassembled and inoperative.

Not to mention all the competition from unlicensed dealers strolling the streets.

Past that, though, is the second sentence of Section 5.

The business must be open to the clientele designated by the licensee to be served;

So, are the corporate offices of the Violence Policy Center open to customers seeking Glocks, Colts and Remingtons?

It's difficult to believe that VPC has complied with any of the subsections of Section 6.

I'll have to go back to the Heller filings to see if Mr. Sugarmann and VPC are in there for anything more than a citation or two.