First held in 2014, the Firearms Industry Conference (FIC) was created by Orchid with the purpose of educating firearms industry professionals, connecting firearms businesses with federal agencies, industry attorneys and technology specialists, and advancing the shooting sports community. Held annually, the event debuted as the Firearms Industry Compliance Conference before rebranding ahead of the upcoming 2022 conference. This year’s conference marks the 8th annual event after canceling in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since its inception, FIC has held over 175 learning sessions and workshops, trained more than 1,500 firearms industry professionals, featured executives from all firearms industry trade associations and federal regulatory agencies, and hosted 600-plus companies and organizations.

Conference Overview

FIC Format

FIC is a multiple-day, in-person event held at changing locations. The event includes one day of pre-conference workshops followed by two days of educational sessions, breakout sessions and keynote speeches. FIC Workshops are deep-dive, interactive courses lasting three (3) hours broken into two sessions, while the main conference sessions cover various topics in detail, ranging from 45 minutes to nearly two (2) hours in length.

New for 2022, FIC will offer virtual learning as part of the new two-day FIC On-Air™ series held prior to conference workshops and sessions. FIC On-Air™ packs basic and intermediate-level topics into easily digestible 20-minute sessions designed for FFL professionals interested in getting started or growing their tactical knowledge.

FIC Content

FIC workshops and sessions are divided into three learning tracks – Firearms Industry Law & Finance, FFL Compliance and FFL Technology – and led by industry and subject matter experts, including federal agency executives, attorneys and technology specialists. Sessions run simultaneously so that conference attendees can freely choose which to join.

Sessions and workshops cover a wide range of critical, timely and relevant topics related to the roles of firearms industry professionals and FFL operations. Common content topics include ATF compliance and inspections, retail and manufacturing technology, firearm importing and exporting, and mergers and acquisition and raising capital.

Attendees can also participate in open federal regulatory agency breakout sessions with ATF, FBI NICS, DDTC and BIS executives. Keynote speeches are also given at the start of each day of the main event, often by industry leadership and federal agency executives.

FIC Attendees

FIC is open to all associated firearms industry professionals, including FFL owner-operators and employees, trade association leadership, federal agency executives, attorneys, general counsel and compliance specialists, sales and business development personnel, accountants, and technology experts.

Headlining attendees are industry leadership from the NSSF, NASGW and ASA, federal agency executives from the ATF, FBI NICS, DDTC, BIS and internal departments, and technology experts from 4473 Cloud, AmmoReady and Everest. Regular and past FFL attendees have also included:

Manufacturers: CZ-USA, FN America, GLOCK, Kimber, Mossberg, Palmetto State Armory, Ruger, SCCY, SIG SAUER, Smith & Wesson, Vista Outdoor

Distributors: Big Rock Sports, Chattanooga Shooting Supplies, Davidsons, Lipsey’s, Lone Wolf Distributors, RSR Group, Sports South

Retailers: Academy Sports & Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Big R Stores, Gander Outdoors, L.L.Bean, Walmart

Dealers/Ranges: Centennial Gun Club, Frontier Justice, Poway Weapons & Gear Range, Scottsdale Gun Club, Shoot Point Blank

Ecommerce: Brownells, Cheaper Than Dirt, Everest, GunBroker.com, Guns.com, Primary Arms, Silencer Shop, Sportsman’s Guide

2022 Conference

Co-hosted by Orchid and Williams Mullen Firearms Industry Group, the 2022 FIC will be held virtually and in-person April 21–27. FIC On-Air will be held online April 21–22, followed by FIC Workshops on April 25 and the main FIC event April 26–27 in Atlanta, Ga.

FIC Content

Notable 2022 sessions and workshops include:

Firearms Industry Law & Finance

• • Responsibilities of an FFL ‘Responsible Person’ or Compliance Professional
  • 2022 Updates in State Firearm Laws
  • Employment Law Update: Perspectives from the Pandemic

FFL Compliance

• • Deep Dive into Today’s ATF Inspections
  • Firearms & Ammunition Excise Taxes: What You Need to Know
  • Navigating ATF Compliance Matters and Revocations

FFL Technology

• • ATF eForms: Soups to Nuts
  • Managing Firearm Inventory with Modern POS, ERP & eCommerce Platforms
  • ATF and FFL eStorage Technology

Registration & Sponsorships

Registration for FIC 2022, including FIC On-Air, FIC Workshops and the FIC main event is now open. Multiple levels of conference sponsorships are also available.

A portion of ticket sales and sponsorships will be donated to NSSF’s Project ChildSafe firearms safety program. Sponsorships also include complimentary registration for sponsor industry partners.

To learn more about the 2022 FIC or to attend or sponsor the event, visit orchidadvisors.com/FIC.