NSSF consultant Bob Berthold

[bthom]

CA DOJ Field Rep Bob Berthold retired over a year ago from DOJ. I found out he is now a consultant with the National Shooting Sports Foundation. He has already performed DROS / firearm dealers inspection as a consultant. He can now be much more open about how to pass an inspection. I have heard good feedback. I believe an FFL has to go thru the NSSF to request an audit. The FFL has to be a member of the NSSF.

[ugimports]

CA DOJ Field Rep Bob Berthold retired over a year ago from DOJ. I found out he is now a consultant with the National Shooting Sports Foundation. He has already performed DROS / firearm dealers inspection as a consultant. He can now be much more open about how to pass an inspection. I have heard good feedback. I believe an FFL has to go thru the NSSF to request an audit. The FFL has to be a member of the NSSF.

On the bolded part what do you mean? I don't recall CA DOJ ever trying to hide what was needed to pass an audit. E.g., if you got a violation that's what you need to fix to pass the audit next time...

Do you have an example, perhaps, of something that wasn't clear before? Off the top of my head I can think of the major points:
1) Signage (DOJ Signs + Licenses)
2) DROS paperwork (complete properly, click Delivered when delivered, cancel when not picked up or canceled)
3) Firearm Safety Affidavits
4) Have the right docs to go with DROS (utility bills, etc..)

Those are probably the top 4 items. There's likely a few more things they check, but I don't remember them or ATF not being fairly open about what you have to do.

[Baboosh]

We were one of the first ones he did this for when he retired, we hired him through Jason Davis. It was WELL worth the money and he is very open to anything you ask him.

We had him do a complete audit as he would has as a DOJ agent and he had nothing for us to correct. He spent the full day at our place and we had lots of open conversations about DOJ policies and the direction the department was headed.

[Tyke8319]

Any idea what/how he charges?

[bthom]

NSSF Berthold

DOJ could only tell the dealers so much,There were a few "tricks" they had to "bring down" a dealer. Berthold is very honest about all of this. As I understand it, Berthold was very "pro dealer" when he was with DOJ,..and still is. The NSSF charges the dealer $499 for an inspection which Berthold conducts. I understand he is very detailed and he is very direct,..but everything is very confidential. He doesn't report back to the NSSF. Remember, he is also an NRA instructor and a firearms collector.

[ugimports]

I guess I don't know why the tricks to bring down a dealer should be super confidential or cost $499 to learn. I guess it's niche for him, but typically folks share info here. If the only way for an FFL to learn these tricks is to pay $499 I guess I'll have to pay it at some point.

I think we're doing the FFL community a dis-service by hiding the "tricks".. Unless the idea is that you pay $499 so you're protected and hope your competition gets tricked and brought down.

I don't think I've seen that attitude here, but I guess I can't really predict what everyone is really thinking..

[acespawnshop]

Yeah, I sort of agree here with UG, I don't see what tricks can be up their sleeve when we all have access to the same PC.

About the only thing I can remember being pissed about in my last audit was DOJ inspector nailed us for not writing make and model of the gunlock on the DROS, this was a while ago and we argued that nowhere in the PC does it say we have to do that and their reply was "well we just told you to do it now"

But other than that I don't see what trickery they could be using these days.

[Tyke8319]

I think that thread would be an excellent "Sticky". "Tricks I've learned to pass (ATF)(DOJ) audit."
Lord knows we've all had small to large inuendoes dropped on us during an audit.

[acespawnshop]

Tyke that might be one of the smallest sticky threads in the forum.

Rule 1: Don't F it up....
Rule 2: See rule 1

[ugimports]

Also, to be clear, I think Bob/NSSF helping with pre-audits could be well worth the $499.

The part I am taking exception to are the "tips & secrets" that you learn as part of the $499 fee. I don't see why those aren't made public to benefit us all.

[Tyke8319]

.

I don't see why those aren't made public to benefit us all.

Hence, my suggestion of the "Sticky"; I hate to think that we weren't willing to share knowledge in order to perpetuate our own collective prosperity. Maybe I'm being naive ... but isn't that what were doing on this forum?

[acespawnshop]

Hence, my suggestion of the "Sticky"; I hate to think that we weren't willing to share knowledge in order to perpetuate our own collective prosperity. Maybe I'm being naive ... but isn't that what were doing on this forum?

I'm an open book. I've gone through a few of these now and I'm willing to share what has happened to me. (in a sticky)

[kemasa]

The main thing is attention to detail. I use a checklist, not because I don't know what to do, but to ensure that I do all the stupid little things which could cause a problem, such as the "proceed" box on the 4473, even when that is not the proper answer as there is no initial response. I have been doing to too long and it is easy to just forget things or to think that you did something when you actually didn't. One thing with the checklist is to never check the box until after you actually do it, even if you are thinking that you are doing to do it right away. Something could happen which distracts you.

Going over the paperwork carefully is important. Don't just assume that you have done something and don't assume that the customer filled it things out correctly. Going over the paperwork twice is also a good idea, especially since you have the time at the start of the paperwork and once the waiting period is over.

[ugimports]

The main thing is attention to detail. I use a checklist, not because I don't know what to do, but to ensure that I do all the stupid little things which could cause a problem, such as the "proceed" box on the 4473, even when that is not the proper answer as there is no initial response. I have been doing to too long and it is easy to just forget things or to think that you did something when you actually didn't. One thing with the checklist is to never check the box until after you actually do it, even if you are thinking that you are doing to do it right away. Something could happen which distracts you.

Going over the paperwork carefully is important. Don't just assume that you have done something and don't assume that the customer filled it things out correctly. Going over the paperwork twice is also a good idea, especially since you have the time at the start of the paperwork and once the waiting period is over.

This usually happens with my wife and I so not only are we double checking the docs, but typically it's 2 different sets of eyes.

The main "gotcha" that I had from the DOJ which was mentioned was to write in the lock info and noting whether it was Purchased, OEM, or Provided.

While not in the PC (required to note) the auditors all seem to look for it.

[kemasa]

This usually happens with my wife and I so not only are we double checking the docs, but typically it's 2 different sets of eyes.

The main "gotcha" that I had from the DOJ which was mentioned was to write in the lock info and noting whether it was Purchased, OEM, or Provided.

While not in the PC (required to note) the auditors all seem to look for it.

Multiple eyes can help catch things.

Yeah, well, when they make things up and don't inform FFLs, then they can write them up for it.