CA COE Bullcrap

[FourT6and2]

I used to have an FFL and COE. Failed to renew years ago and have now reapplied. Still waiting on FFL from ATF. But just received an email from CA DOJ:

"Please provide your Federal Firearms License (FFL) Type 03 Collector of Curios and Relics FFL Number via email to the COE Unit. If you do not have an FFL-03, please indicate the reason for wanting a COE in the email."

I did a search and it seems DOJ is playing games with a lot of applications. I responded with:

Will see what happens. Has anybody been successful with this without providing an FFL number? Is there a way to check on my FFL application status with ATF?

[G-forceJunkie]

Yes, everyone that challenges them on the FFL number gets issued their COE anyways. No way to check, I did mine a couple of months ago and it was like 4-5 weeks.

[FourT6and2]

Why do they even bother? Are they trying to just make it difficult to get, hoping people get discouraged and give up? If FFL isn't required and reason for COE isn't required, and they know this, and we know it, and they get challenged on it each time, then... why are they doing it?

[mk2dave]

Look at the C&R forum, this topic has been discussed at length. The upshot is yes, they ask for the info. If you ask them for a PC justifying the request, they just process it without the info. Otherwise they pretend like its required.

I think they are trying to connect dots that would otherwise require a warrant? Not a lawyer, and I know very little about it. But this is the only rationale I could come up with.

[FourT6and2]

Oh I didn't realize there was a C&R forum for this.

[Capybara]

BOF is just another California institution trying to make legal ownership impossible or at least as unpleasant as possible. Your FFL03 definitely isn't required and they are just being wankers asking for it.

[Flintlock Tom]

I applied for a renewal of my C&R FFL last year. I received a physical letter in the mail referencing an arrest in a previous century; a misdemeanor, charges dropped. A couple days later I got a second letter, both with a phone number to call. Both letters stated that my application could not proceed until I "cleared this up." I called several times: no answer and no return call. I decided that I wasn't going to bother and just forgot about it. A couple weeks later I received my renewal license in the mail.

[SilveradoColt21]

Various people here have challenged that when prompted to give it, so it is possible to challenge it as others have said and they do eventually give you your COE.

[FourT6and2]

UPDATE

COE approved. FFL arrived.

CA DOJ is pushing it and might find themselves with yet another lawsuit if they keep demanding people provide FFL and a "reason" for needing a COE. But I guess they'd have to deny someone's app by refusing to issue due to these reasons. However... they are unnecessarily extending the application process by wasting time asking and then making you resubmit before finally issuing. And a right delayed is a right denied.