Compliance

Every participant on ArmedStrong must hold a valid Federal Firearms License issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Our verification process includes:

• ATF Registry Validation: Your FFL number is verified against the official ATF Federal Firearms License registry, confirming license number, business name, license type, and physical address.
• Identity Verification: All account holders undergo Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures to verify the identity of individuals conducting business on the platform.
• Ongoing Monitoring: We re-download the ATF registry monthly and keep our copy current, including licenses the ATF has withdrawn. Expiration is evaluated every time an account’s compliance status is read, so an expired license stops that account transacting.
• License Type Enforcement: Product access and selling permissions are scoped to your specific FFL type, ensuring you can only transact in categories your license authorizes.

We publish the time each review takes so that “someone will look at it” is never the answer. Targets are measured in business days from submission, in US Eastern time, excluding weekends and federal holidays.

• You can see where you stand. FFL verification and catalog product submissions each show their target date while they wait, and say so plainly once that date passes.
• We refresh our copy of the ATF registry monthly. License expiration is checked every time your compliance status is read, so an expired license stops you transacting the moment it lapses.
• We re-check every verified license against that registry daily. If a license is no longer in the federal file, we mark it revoked, record it in the compliance trail, and email everyone on the account — we do not wait for the expiration date to catch it.
• Past target? Contact us and we will tell you what the review is waiting on.

Every transaction on ArmedStrong is subject to compliance checks designed to ensure adherence to federal, state, and local regulations:

• Pre-Transaction Verification: Before a transaction is completed, both buyer and seller FFL status is confirmed to be active and valid.
• Shipping Compliance: All firearms shipments must be sent to the FFL address on record. Our platform enforces FFL-to-FFL shipping requirements.
• Restricted Items: Our system evaluates every line against the destination state’s restriction rules, the buyer’s state-permit requirements, and federal minimum-age thresholds, and blocks law-enforcement-only products for buyers we have not verified as an eligible agency.
• NFA and SOT: ArmedStrong does not support National Firearms Act (Title II) transactions. SOT class is recorded on a license for reference only; it is not a transaction control, and no order is cleared on the strength of it.
• Audit Trail: Every transaction generates a complete audit trail including timestamps, participant details, and compliance check results.

ArmedStrong maintains comprehensive records to support regulatory compliance and provide transparency for all marketplace participants:

• Transaction Records: Complete records of all marketplace transactions are maintained for a minimum of twenty years, in accordance with ATF record-keeping requirements.
• Verification History: All FFL verification checks, KYC results, and compliance screening outcomes are documented and retained.
• Communication Logs: Platform communications related to transactions and compliance matters are preserved for regulatory reference.
• Export Capabilities: Users can export their transaction history and compliance documentation for their own record-keeping obligations.

In addition to federal requirements, ArmedStrong recognizes that firearms regulations vary significantly across states and localities:

• State-Specific Restrictions: Our platform is aware of state-level restrictions on certain product categories and can flag transactions that may require additional review based on the buyer’s or seller’s jurisdiction.
• Local Ordinances: While we strive to incorporate known local regulations, buyers and sellers remain responsible for compliance with all applicable local ordinances in their jurisdictions.
• Regulatory Updates: We actively monitor changes to firearms regulations at all levels and update our compliance systems accordingly. Users are notified of regulatory changes that may affect their marketplace activities.
• User Responsibility: While ArmedStrong provides compliance tools and verification services, each FFL holder remains individually responsible for their own regulatory compliance. Our platform is a tool to support — not replace — your compliance obligations.