Data sources
Every business in our directory traces back to one of these public registries or to an owner-submitted listing. We never invent rows. Each section below explains what the source is, exactly which records we pull, and how often we refresh.
ATF Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Registry
Federal programWhat it is. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) publishes a monthly list of all active Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) in the United States. Each record includes the licensee's business name, license type (Type 01 Dealer, Type 02 Pawnbroker, Type 07 Manufacturer, etc.), address, and license expiration date.
How we use it. We import every active Type 01 (Dealer) and Type 02 (Pawnbroker) FFL holder and tag them with source_name='ATF FFL'. License type is mapped to the appropriate service tags (firearms sales, pawn, etc.).
Refresh cadence. Re-imported monthly when ATF publishes updated lists.
Citation: ATF FFL Listing (atf.gov)
NSSF Member Retailers
Industry standards bodyWhat it is. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is the firearms industry trade association. Their member directory includes retailers, ranges, manufacturers, and distributors that meet NSSF membership standards.
How we use it. We cross-reference NSSF membership against our existing FFL-sourced listings. When a match is found, we add an 'NSSF Member' credential badge to the listing for additional trust signaling.
Refresh cadence. Re-checked quarterly.
Citation: NSSF (nssf.org)
NRA Range Locator
Professional associationWhat it is. The National Rifle Association (NRA) maintains a public directory of shooting ranges across the United States. Each listing includes range name, address, phone, and range type (indoor, outdoor, both).
How we use it. We import ranges from the NRA locator and tag them with source_name='NRA Range'. Service tags are set to 'shooting-range' and 'firearms-training' where applicable.
Refresh cadence. Re-scraped quarterly.
Citation: NRA Range Locator (rangelocator.nra.org)
ATF Special Occupational Taxpayers (SOT)
Federal programWhat it is. Special Occupational Taxpayers (SOT) are FFL holders who have paid the special tax to deal in NFA firearms (Class III). SOT status is a subset of the FFL registry and indicates the dealer is authorized to sell suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and machine guns (where state law permits).
How we use it. When we identify SOT/Class III dealers, we add the 'Class III / SOT Dealer' credential to their listing and add 'nfa-items' and 'suppressors' service tags.
Refresh cadence. Verified quarterly against ATF data.
Citation: ATF SOT (atf.gov)
Owner-submitted listings
Industry standards bodyWhat it is. Gun store owners and managers can submit their own listing through our /join page. Each submission includes business name, address, phone, services offered, and optional credential documentation.
How we use it. Owner submissions are tagged with source_name='owner'. Every submission goes through admin review before publication. Credentials claimed by the owner are verified against the issuing authority when possible.
Refresh cadence. Continuous; reviewed within 48 hours of submission.
Citation: Owner submissions (licensedgunstoresnearme.com/join)
Want to see our verification process step-by-step? Read How we verify. For our editorial neutrality, dispute, and removal policies, read Trust standards.
If you represent one of these registries and have feedback on how we cite or use your data, please contact us.