Maurer's Trading Post, Inc.
Warning letter Revocation warrantedThis gun dealer was cited for 3 violations. The inspection resulted in a warning letter.
A warning letter is the least severe action the ATF can take against a licensee with compliance issues. The letter advises the licensee to comply with regulations.
The licensee was found eligible for revocation. The majority of licensees whose violations merit revocation under ATF guidelines ultimately receive a lesser penalty from an ATF director of industry operations.
Address
1696 Pittsburgh Road
Franklin, PA 16323
Venango County
License
Number | 8-25-121-01-1B-02676 |
Type | Dealer in firearms |
Expiry | Jan 1, 2023 |
Inspection Timeline
Compliance inspections are conducted by one or more ATF officers. After the lead investigator submits a recommendation, one or more ATF supervisors will review the inspection and either concur with or adjust the recommendation.
This page contains information about a single inspection conducted between 2015 and 2017. The ATF may have inspected this licensee before and/or after the inspection detailed here.
Officers spent a total of 302 hours conducting this inspection. 60 days passed between the assignment and the final review. The licensee received a final outcome of warning letter.
Hover over underlined text to see definitions of common terms.
Please conduct an on-site Recall Compliance Inspection. This inspection should include: a full physical inventory of the firearms on hand in conjunction with an A&D Records Review and a comprehensive review of the ATF Form 4473s on hand for the time frame of the inspection.
ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION
Ul# 766060-2016-0147-BIB FFL # 8-25-02676 Exp Date: 01/01/2017 Licensee: Maurer’s Trading Post, Inc Dates of Inspection: 10/20/2015-11/04/2015 Scope of Inspection: FY 2016 Recall Compliance Recommendation: Time Frame of Inspection: 10/20/2014-10/20/2015 Recommendation: Violations; ROV , WL ; No Recall ALTERNATE TO Revocation SIOI: redacted A/S Comments: From 10/20/2015-11/04/2015, SIOI redacted led a team of IOIs on a Recall Compliance Inspection at the licensed premises of Maurer's Trading Post, Inc. RP Jody Maurer was present for the inspection. During this inspection, SIOI redacted and his team of IOIs completed the following activities: -Obtained a business profile Licensee operates a commercial storefront from which they sell new and used firearms. For the time frame of the inspection, the licensee disposed of over 2,200 firearms. The Type 01 FFL coincides with the business profile. -Confirmed NO changes in ownership and/or control. Deconfliction Queries were conducted on RP Maurer with NO adverse findings. Hidden Ownership is NOT suspected. -Completed a full physical inventory of the firearms on hand (2,406) in conjunction with an A&D Record Book review. As a result of this activity, SIOI redacted identified redacted deficient A&D Record Book entries resulting in redacted missing/unaccounted for firearms reported on an ATF Theft/Loss Report. With over 2,200 A&D Record Book Entries reviewed, the overall Deficiency Rating was 1.3%. The redacted deficient entries were cited under 27 CFR 478.125(e), a Repeat Violation cited in each of the last three (3) Compliance Inspections. -Reviewed all ATF Form 4473s (1,947) for the time frame of the inspection with only redacted deficient form identified for a Deficiency Rating of 0.05%. SIOI cited the deficient ATF Form 4473 under 27 CFR 478 124(c)(1), a Repeat Violation cited in each of the last four (4) Compliance inspections. -Conducted a review of the Multiple Handgun Sales completed during the time frame of the inspection. This review revealed a total of forty-five (45) multiple handgun transfers occurring during the time frame of the inspection; however, redacted of said sales, involving redacted handguns, were NOT properly reported. SIOI redacted determined that the applicable Multiple Handgun Sales Form was completed for each of these redacted transactions; however, the forms were transmitted to the wrong number via fax machine. SIOl redacted determined that the forms were transmitted to PICS instead of ATF. SIOI redacted notes this mitigating factor in his report but appropriately cites all redacted instances under 27 CFR 478.126a, a Repeat Violation area in each of the last four (4) Compliance Inspections. -Evaluated trace activity. SIOI redacted determined that the licensee was associated with redacted firearm traces in the past 12 months. The average time to crime for the firearms traced in the past 12 months is redacted. None of the firearms traced in the last 12 months have a time to crime of redacted. –Completed a Closing Conference on 11/04/2015 with RP Jody Maurer and Clerk redacted. At the conclusion of this conference, SIOI redacted and RP Maurer signed and dated the Acknowledgement of Federal Firearms Regulations. As a result of this Compliance Inspection, SIOI redacted has recommended a Warning Letter with No Recall alternate to Revocation. SIOI redacted cites the marked improvement in completion of ATF Form 4473s, low inventory deficiency rating, and implementation of several internal controls as the main reasons for the alternate recommendation. A/S Recommendation: A/S redacted agrees with SIOI redacted alternate recommendation in part. A/S redacted recommends a Warning Letter with Recall for the following reasons: 1.) The licensee continues to have inventory issues. Prior to the initiation of the Compliance Inspection, the licensee identified redacted missing firearms as a result of an internal inventory and reported said firearms on an ATF Theft/Loss Report. redacted of the redacted firearms were accounted for during SIOI redacted inspection redacted of the firearms sold and recorded on an ATF Form 4473, redacted of the firearms discovered in inventory). Additionally, SIOI redacted inspection revealed redacted additional missing firearms which were subsequently reported on another ATF Theft/Loss Report. Even though the number of missing firearms has improved from previous inspections and the licensee has implemented internal controls (tag system, inventories twice each calendar year, separate A&D Books for handguns and long guns, etc.), inventory issues still persist. As SIOI redacted points out, the licensee's inventories appear to be piecemeal and unorganized thereby preventing them from capturing all inventory deficiencies. Because there has been improvement in tracking the firearms inventory, a Warning Letter is sufficient to address the matter. However, for this licensee, the inventory process has yet to be perfected and is still a work-in-progress; therefore, a Recall Inspection is needed to provide oversight to the inventory process and ensure progress continues to be made in this area. 2.) The licensee continues to have issues with the reporting of Multiple Handgun Sales. The licensee failed to transmit redacted Handgun Sales Reports involving redacted firearms to ATF. The licensee mistakenly faxed these forms to PICS. The licensee completed the forms but faxed them to the incorrect agency. The licensee attributed this violation to a 3-4 month period where redacted was on medical leave and unable to verify the location (fax number) where the Multiple Handgun Sales forms were being transmitted. redacted advised SIOI redacted that, during that period, the person in charge of record-keeping was new to the position and most likely failed to confirm the fax number. While the completion of the forms but failure to transmit them to the correct location (fax number) is a strong mitigating factor, there clearly continues to be issues with Maurer's team of employees property reporting Multiple Handgun Sales to ATF. A Warning Letter is sufficient to address this issue, but a Recall Inspection is needed to follow-up on this Repeat Violation and ensure proper reporting on multiple handgun sales. 3.) The licensee has implemented various standard operating procedures and safeguards to track and protect their firearms inventory as well as ensure proper completion of each ATF Form 4473 including: -Inventories twice a month —Inventory Tag System -Separate A&D Record Books for long guns, handguns, and consignment firearms -Handwritten Receipts for all firearms transactions -Secondary checks of ATF Form 4473s -SOP for receipt and logging in of all newly acquired firearms —All handguns are locked in secure cases -Long guns secured with cable locks -Internal Training. SIOI redacted noted that Jody Maurer conducted internal training for all employees after completion of his inspection. -Continued affiliation and work with FFL Guard A representative from FFL Guard was present via Conference Call during the Closing Conference. The implementation of the above-mentioned internal controls signals that the licensee is making a sincere effort to comply with Federal Firearms Regulations. The licensee’s efforts have proven effective in that the Deficiency Ratings for both inventory discrepancies (13%) and ATF Form 4473 completion (.05%) have been significantly reduced. However, it is evident that more work needs to be done, especially in the area of tracking and maintaining the firearms inventory. Therefore, a Recall Inspection is needed to ensure continued progress is made in this area. 4.) No significant trace activity. Despite the licensee's inventory issues, they continue to have insignificant trace activity and, therefore, do not appear to be a threat to public safety. SIOI redacted reports, "According to E-Trace this licensee was associated with redacted firearm traces in the past 12 months. E-Trace indicates all traces were redacted. The average time to crime for the firearms traced in the past 12 months is redacted. None of the firearms traced in the last 12 months have a time to crime of redacted; only redacted of the firearms traced have a time to crime of redacted. Overall, this licensee is associated with redacted traces, with an average time to crime of redacted." Based upon the above reasons, a Warning Letter with Recall Inspection alternate to Revocation is sufficient recourse at this time. However, the Narrative Report with all supporting documentation will be forwarded to the DIO for secondary review and final recommendation.
Violations
If an inspection uncovers regulatory violations, the licensee receives a report outlining these violations. This section lists the violations found in the inspection, as well as a general description of each offense. More details on the nature of the licensee's specific violations may be found in the report PDF.
This licensee was cited for 3 violations.
Citation | Description | |
---|---|---|
478.124(c)(1) | Failure to obtain a Form 4473 showing the transferee's name, sex, address, date and place of birth, and other required information. 🔗 | |
478.125(e) | Failure by a dealer to properly maintain a record of the receipt and disposition of firearms. 🔗 | |
478.126a | Failure to report the sale of two or more pistols or revolvers to an individual during five consecutive business days. 🔗 |
Source: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. About the data »