Why is Mr.Sykes the only FLL Dealer?

[six6nine9wpk]

Why hasn't anybody come along and challenge this man. I mean 125 for a hand gun transfer is ridiculous. DC is trying to make it impossible for the average citizen to be able to afford a gun in the home. Not only are DC residence paying 200 over retail the wait time substantial.

 

[swinokur]

Why start a business that is designed by law to fail?

It'd be like opening a car dealership in a city that outlaws cars.

 

[Biggfoot44]

The zoning laws make it all but impossable to start a gun business. When Mr. Sykes lost his previous lease , he could not find a legal location that didn't have rent of $ zillion . Even DC saw they would be in a bad position if they would allow zero FFL's , so they figured it was the lesser evil to give him a desk at MPD HQ than get sued , or admit their error and rewrite their laws.

From one viewpoint , DC residents are better off in the short run with one FFL vs none , in the short run. In the big picture , if Mr Sykes decided to leave the gun biz ,and persue other easier endevors , there would soon be several very interesting legal actions.

 

[swinokur]

http://cwsxchange.com/index.html

 

[Blacksmith101]

I wonder if an FFL wanted to go into business in Washington DC would the police department also give them desk space? Would it be discriminatory to do otherwise?

 

[swinokur]

They'd evict Mr. Sykes first IMO. But until that reality occurs, it's business as usual.

 

[A1Uni]

We deal with Mr. Sykes on a regular basis, and have discussed his operation at length.

The fees he charges reflect the costs and efforts he has had to go through just to stay in business, despite the best efforts of D.C. Government.

His office is in a government building, and they don't "give him desk space;" they charge him huge rent.

I'd say cut him some slack, without him, there are no FFLs in D.C..

Sidebar, his is a really nice guy and a pleasure to deal with.

 

[swinokur]

His office is in a government building, and they don't "give him desk space;" they charge him huge rent.

Rent 100 bucks a month. Transfer one gun and the rent is paid with money left over.

100 bucks a month rent
no property taxes
no property insurance besides his own space perhaps
no utilities

http://dcist.com/2011/07/sykes_to_sell_transfer_guns_at_mpd.php

I think he should charge whatever he wants, but saying he has huge expenses isn't the reason.
.

 

[A1Uni]

Rent 100 bucks a month. Outrageous. Transfer one gun and the rent is paid with money left over.

http://dcist.com/2011/07/sykes_to_sell_transfer_guns_at_mpd.php

I think he should charge whatever he wants, but saying he has huge expenses isn't the reason.
.

Ya, we have talked to him personally, that isn't what he is paying these days.

You guys seem to forget all he had to go through, legal fees included, to just get that spot to do business.

 

[swinokur]

No one is criticizing him for his fees, at least I'm not. He charges whatever he wants, I'm ok with that.

I'm just saying his overhead is not what a typical FFL in another state has to pay as far as overhead, so that doesn't seem to be the reason his fees are higher than other FFL's.

But perhaps a total lack of competition helps keep prices high.

 

[swinokur]

I would think if another FFL opened up in DC and charged, say 75 dollars for a transfer, would Mr. Sykes lower his prices?

I'd guess he would.

But since he has no competition, he can charge whatever he feels like. That's the free market.

 

[TheBert]

Why hasn't anybody come along and challenge this man. I mean 125 for a hand gun transfer is ridiculous. DC is trying to make it impossible for the average citizen to be able to afford a gun in the home. Not only are DC residence paying 200 over retail the wait time substantial.

You may have to share space with the Mr Sykes due to all of the DC zoning crap.

 

[IJM]

The zoning laws make it all but impossible to start a gun business. When Mr. Sykes lost his previous lease, he could not find a legal location that didn't have rent of $ zillion. Even DC saw they would be in a bad position if they would allow zero FFL's, so they figured it was the lesser evil to give him a desk at MPD HQ than get sued, or admit their error and rewrite their laws.

From one viewpoint, DC residents are better off in the short run with one FFL vs none, in the short run. In the big picture, if Mr Sykes decided to leave the gun biz, and pursue other easier endeavors, there would soon be several very interesting legal actions.

That's pretty much it. I agree that a little competitive pressure would very likely lower prices, but that's pretty much impossible with the current arrangement in DC.

 

[six6nine9wpk]

Seems like a sweet little part time gig if you ask me............ He goes to gun shops twice a week, has his own hours and pays 100 to rent out office space.

 

[swinokur]

note his business phone number and fax is a 301 area code.

hmmm.
.
.

 

[redeemed.man]

note his business phone number and fax is a 301 area code.

hmmm.
.
.

I always thought his email address was amusing.

 

[StantonCree]

Why hasn't anybody come along and challenge this man. I mean 125 for a hand gun transfer is ridiculous. DC is trying to make it impossible for the average citizen to be able to afford a gun in the home. Not only are DC residence paying 200 over retail the wait time substantial.

The actual answer to this question is there are like 6-8 FFL's in D.C. to include Sykes.

One is an Anti-Gun group who will never sell guns

One is some Arts Theatre group so they can buy prop guns

One is the ATF

Sykes

And one other individual (I forget his name). Some random guy.

 

[aquaman]

Why would an anti gun group hold an ffl

 

[TheBert]

Why would an anti gun group hold an ffl

Political issues and political advantage. Think about any of the talking head shows saying they spoke to a DC FFL and the DC FFL said...

 

[swinokur]

The DC FFLs are held by Arena Stage, The Shakespeare Theater Company, Josh Sugarman of the Violence Policy Center, The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, K S Supply and CS Exchange Ltd.A couple of others are listed here as well. Not sure of their status. Mr. Sykes no longer operates out of the Good Hope Road location.

Mr. Sugarm,an as noted is a big anti.
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