Post by Randy on
The Vanishing American Gun Shop In 2021, there were 52,993 Type 01 FFLs nationwide. By 2025, that number dwindled to 46,072. Companies and individuals applying for the license, which is good for three years, dropped even more dramatically. In the same period, that figure went from 7,445 to 4,160. The trend began long before 2021. BATFE’s “Firearm Commerce in the United States Statistical Update 2024” (the latest available) reports that in 2013 there were 54,026 Type 01 FFLs. By 2016, the number was up to 56,074. It has declined every year since. The trend is identical for pawn shops licensed to conduct firearm transfers—Type 02 FFLs. The figures dwarf in comparison to the 1990s, when more than 200,000 Type 01s were valid nationwide. Gun stores back then were a respected and valued member of every community, holding special events for charity, raffles for churches, big-buck contests and more. Many were gathering places for enthusiasts, a stop on the way from work and trade-in racks attracted crowds looking for a bargain or special gun. https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2026/07/26/the-vanishing-american-gun-shop-n1233284
