Epicor targets FFL compliance
Selling firearms can be a tricky business. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which regulates gun sales, is just one of the regulatory bodies, and federal firearms licensees are required to keep careful account of their transactions.
Into this fray comes a product built on the idea that there’s a better way. A new application helps firearms dealers simplify and streamline the process of complying with today's complex and evolving gun laws. The solution, Epicor FFL Compliance Manager, is designed to automate and simplify the process of capturing, storing and reporting all the firearm transaction data required by federal agencies.
According to Austin, Texas-based Epicor, the U.S. firearms industry is highly regulated by ATF, the Department of Justice, and other federal agencies. The Gun Control Act of 1968 requires that federal firearms licensees (FFLs) maintain a "bound" book of all of their firearm transactions. Acquisition and Disposition (A&D) recordkeeping can be a tedious, time-consuming and complicated process, and many FFLs struggle to properly maintain their bound books.
Doug Smith, director of product management and marketing for Epicor, said some smaller retailers try to navigate the red tape with a pencil and paper system.
The new system draws on the expertise of Orchid Advisors, a firearm industry compliance and operations company.
"The Epicor FFL Compliance Manager tool is rooted in firearms best practices from Orchid Advisors, along with Epicor's user interface design, business process management and technology expertise. Together, we are able to make it easier for FFLs to deal with the growing list of compliance issues," said Smith.
"Having a Federal Firearms License is not a right. It's a privilege that must be guarded and respected through careful compliance," said Jon Rydberg, CEO of Orchid Advisors. "Epicor FFL Compliance Manager software enables firearms businesses through an unparalleled set of software tools and support services for serial number tracking, A&D reporting and ATF compliance."
Epicor FFL Compliance Manager includes tools and notifications that allow FFLs to closely monitor their ATF compliance. A "one-click" self-audit tool supports 24x7 audit readiness by quickly packaging selected data required by ATF agents. FFLs can also run ATF compliance reports on demand and review bound book activity quickly and easily via dashboards. The built-in Inventory Reconciliation Report makes it easy to keep records accurate and up-to-date, and helps protect FFLs from missing firearms or security and storage issues.