Where does the story said he sold on a website that HE set up? Not that that would be an issue so long as all the sales went through an FFL for transfers. Guns are bought and sold on websites every day. There are whole sites devoted to nothing but selling guns. THere is a perfectly legal procedure for doing this — all you need to do is route the transfer though a local FFL.
Presumably, he was following proper procedure or they would have charged him with something specific. It just sounds to me like he crossed the indistinct hobby/engaged in business line.
Again, 50 guns in three years is nothing for a serious collector.
Good point, it doesn't. Nice call on my sloppy reading!
"It just sounds to me like he crossed the indistinct hobby/engaged in business line.
I'm sure thats the problem, that and he probably stepped on the wrong toes at work. He was also keeping a "bound-book" of transactions which is very "business-like" and not something a person who sells a few guns would normally do. I suppose a collector may, but they probably would keep the firearms more than a couple of years before reselling.
Follow the link: http://www.kvia.com/news/24747169/detail.html
On April 14, 2010, a federal jury convicted Shipley of one count of dealing firearms without a license, four counts of causing a firearms dealer to maintain false records and one count of making a false statement to federal authorities.
Jurors found that Shipley engaged in the business of dealing in firearms from January 2005 until May 2008, while not being licensed as a Federal Firearms Dealer. Evidence presented during trial revealed that Shipley posted firearms for sale using an internet website more than 200 times, including multiple postings for many firearms. During that three-and-a-half-year time period, Shipley also purchased at least 54 firearms, then sold at least 51 of those firearms for more than $118,000.
Jurors also found that on four occasions between July 2007 and May 2008, Shipley provided false information on ATF forms 4473 when purchasing firearms at local gun shops stating that he was the actual buyer, when in fact, he was not.
Finally, jurors found that on March 21, 2008, Shipley provided to federal authorities a document-a Dealers’ Firearms Record Book-which Shipley claimed was his only complete and accurate listing of the firearms he bought and sold, knowing that he had another Dealers’ Firearms Record Book which contained a more extensive descriptive and accurate list of firearms he bought and sold.