Internet Firearms Purchases and the Demise of Local Gun Stores.

Today I learned about a local gun store (a competitor?) going out of business. Everybody's first response is "yippie!".  One less shark in the tank.  Right?  

Personally, I would like to have MORE gun stores and competitors so I can actively strive to be the best gun store in town. Best service, best prices, etc. Actually, I am more concerned about that store's demise because it is proof that more people are choosing to buy on the internet than at their local gun store. 

So what's wrong with that?  

Let me explain the purchasing protocol (at least in North Carolina). 

When you purchase a firearm, you are required to complete a form 4473 (ATF) that formally documents the sale. If you buy a firearm in our store (or order one in our store), the 4473 transfer is included in the price.  When you buy the firearm online, you still have to complete the 4473. but now we charge you a "transfer fee" because we are liable for the transaction information.   

We currently charge a small transfer fee. It's really as a convenience for our customer base.  We don't always have the right firearm at the right time or price and customers find them someplace else. That's great! And we're happy to accommodate the customers who find the firearm they are searching for. 

But the trend is that more and more customers are buying their firearms from internet sources and using the local stores as the document clearing house. 

I can understand locating a hard to find firearm that the local store doesn't have in stock. Buy it and ship it to your local gun store. On the other hand, why buy a gun that the gun store has in stock or can order?  Sure, you may save a few dollars because you didn't have to pay sales tax. 

But when the local stores all fold because of loss of sales to the internet giants, who is going to be around to handle the required ATF transfers?  If I am the only guy in town, my transfer fee is going to go from $20 (current)  to $150.  Why not?  I have a brick and mortar store, bills to pay and no sales to support it.

With the current environment, I suppose that traditional gun stores are going to eventually (maybe sooner than you think) fade away.  Anti-gun legislation makes it harder to make a gun transaction every day. It is an inexorable push to make it harder and harder for citizens to own firearms.  We are trying to help facilitate that process. "Progress" is working against us. 

Please. Support your local gun store. Support the 2nd amendment.