A gun shop (also known by various other names such as firearm store and gun store) is a business that sells firearms, such as handguns and long guns, to individuals in an open shopping format. It may also provide repairs for firearms and their parts. Other items such as ammunition, hunting accessories, food, clothing, and even souvenirs may be sold in the store as well. Often having designs reminiscent of other establishments such as department stores and grocery stores, gun shops operate under widely different gun control laws depending on the specific nation, locality, and jurisdiction involved. Some locations may only employ a single gunsmith in a small space, while others might have many individuals working in a large space. Although the advent of online shopping has changed the business of gun stores, the ability for customers to interact face to face with store dealers often is seen as having advantages, examples being personally guiding individuals buying firearms through the regulated purchase processes set up by local and national laws. Employees may also offer specific advice about firearm specifications. Various firearm-related websites exist that partner, either directly or indirectly, with physical stores[citation needed] In the United States, gun shops are required to have a permitting notice known as a Federal Firearms License.[citation needed] These licenses exist in order to administer federally mandated regulations such as bans on straw purchasing. From Wikipedia
