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FIC 2023 Debuts Silent Auction, Benefits Firearms Research Center

Written by jon rydberg

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April 12, 2023

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White text atop blue background next to 2023 Firearms Industry Conference and silent auction contributor logos

HARTFORD, CT (April 13, 2023) – Orchid is excited to announce a silent auction to benefit the newly launched Firearms Research Center (FRC) at the upcoming 2023 Firearms Industry Conference (FIC), held in Atlanta, May 1-3, 2023. Industry members who attend the FIC Main Event will have an opportunity to bid on and win firearms, optics, experiences and more through the silent auction with all proceeds raised donated to support the FRC mission.

“Now in its ninth year, we’re thrilled to continue to add value to the Firearms Industry Conference with the debut of the FIC Silent Auction,” said Orchid Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer Leland Nichols. “For the first time, FIC attendees will have the chance to not only leave the event with new insights and business connections, but also some incredible silent auction prizes. We’re glad to have great industry support to be able to organize such an auction and to donate proceeds to a worthy cause in the Firearms Research Center.”

Housed in the University of Wyoming College of Law, the FRC was founded in 2023 by legal scholar, George A. Mocsary, and firearms historian Ashley Hlebinksy to foster a broad discourse and produce meaningful change in how firearms are discussed and understood. By creating a pipeline of graduates prepared to serve as non-partisan firearms lawyers, conducting groundbreaking firearm research, and facilitating firearm education and safety, the FRC will serve as a resource for academics, practitioners, lawmakers, members of the media, and the public on the uses and roles of firearms in society

FIC 2023 Silent Auction items include:

  • Barrett REC7 DI Rifle
  • Black Rifle Coffee Bagged Coffee and Mugs
  • CGS SCI-SIX Suppressors (via Silencer Shop)
  • Gunsite 250 Pistol and 223 Carbine Classes
  • Joe Wall Design Assorted Jewelry
  • Liberty Overwatch 10mm Ammunition
  • Marlin Model 1895 SBL Rifle (via Ruger)
  • Orchid Zero Tolerance Rapid Assessment
  • Primary Arms GLx 1-6×24 FFP Riflescopes with Mounts
  • Primary Weapon Systems MK116 PRO Rifle
  • QuietKat Ranger E-Bike
  • Samson Ruger Mini-14 Stocks & Accessories
  • Shadow Systems DR920 Elite FDE Pistol
  • Timney Triggers Gift Certificates
  • Trijicon Tenmile 4-24×50 Riflescope
  • Weatherby Element Turkey Shotgun

“We’re so grateful for Orchid’s early support of the Firearms Research Center,” said Hlebinsky, FRC co-founder and senior fellow. “Just like FIC brings together industry professionals and subject matter experts to learn and network, the FRC will use the resources raised from the silent auction to bring more voices, more scholarships, and more data to the conversation around firearms. Thank you in advance to all companies who contributed and all registrants who will participate in the silent auction for helping to advance our important mission.”

Comprised of three events over five days, FIC 2023 is organized by Orchid and Williams Mullen’s Firearms Industry Group. The event features educational sessions led by federal agency personnel, industry attorneys, firearms professionals, and subject matter experts. Sessions are divided into three comprehensive learning tracks: FFL Compliance, FFL Technology, and Firearm Law & Finance. Virtual FIC On-Air, sponsored by digital storage leader 4473 Cloud, will be held online April 27-28, followed by Pre-Conference Workshops on May 1 and the FIC Main Event, May 2-3, in Atlanta.

To view the complete conference agenda and register your team for FIC 2023 events, visit orchidadvisors.com/FIC. In-person registration closes Friday, April 14. Industry members who register for FIC On-Air by April 15 can get a second virtual registration for free with promo code ‘4473CLOUD’ at checkout.

2023 Firearms Industry Conference (FIC) logo and white text atop blue background

About Orchid LLC
Celebrating 10 years of serving the shooting sports industry, Orchid and partner firm, FFL Law, offer leading FFL software, firearms-friendly payment processing, and legal and regulatory services for the firearms, ammunition and explosives industries. Orchid’s POS, eCommerce, and regulatory applications, including Orchid eBound, Orchid FEL Book, and Orchid eState, accompany its expert services in ERP integration, firearms/explosives regulation, state gun laws and Firearm & Ammunition Excise Tax advisory. Get started today at orchidadvisors.com.

Firearms Research Center
The Firearms Research Center (FRC), which is housed in the University of Wyoming College of Law, was founded in 2023 by legal scholar, George A. Mocsary, and firearms historian Ashley Hlebinksy, to establish more voices in the firearms discussion, create a pipeline of graduates prepared to serve as firearms lawyers, and act as a reliable, non-partisan resource for firearms-related information. By bringing together scholars from a wide range of academic disciplines and experts without traditional academic backgrounds, FRC aims to foster a broad discourse and produce meaningful change in how firearms are discussed and understood. FRC will serve as a resource for academics, practitioners, lawmakers, members of the media, and the public on the uses and roles of firearms in society – both past and present. For more information, visit firearmsresearchcenter.org.

Press Contact:
Joe Kriz
Communications Manager, Orchid LLC
jkriz@joinorchid.com

Register for FIC 2023

Get Your Ticket

The official text is at 91 FR 24357, Federal Register Volume 91, Issue 87 (May 6, 2026), pages 24357–24362. The docket is also open for comment at regulations.gov (Docket ATF-2026-0009) through midnight Eastern on June 5, 2026. This rule is part of ATF’s broader New Era of Reform package announced earlier this spring — see Orchid’s previous coverage of the Trump DOJ / ATF rule reforms for FFLs.

Unlike many publications on the Federal Register, this change was posted as a Direct Final Rule, making it immediately effective August 4, 2026 without a separate notice-for-comment cycle — unless significant adverse comments are received by June 5.

 

What Didn’t Change?

Permitting FFLs to verify a transferee’s license via ATF eZ Check does not eliminate the regulatory mandate to actually verify the transferee’s license prior to a firearm transfer. The change is in the method of verification — not whether verification is required.

 

Orchid Customers Already Benefit

Orchid eBound, POS, and eCommerce have integrated directly with ATF FFL eZ Check for years. Every FFL transfer routed through your account is already being validated against ATF’s live data — no separate window, no PDF chasing, no manual license-number lookup. This is the same architecture that helped Orchid stay compliant through the ATF Ruling 2021R-05 changes and powers Orchid’s ATF Transaction Advisory Program for retail dealers.

For higher-volume transferors — manufacturers, distributors, and ERP-driven FFLs — our eFFL API delivers FFL and Letter of Authorization (LOA) data directly into the systems where your team actually works. The eFFL API is in production at customers running BSP NetSuite, Epicor, Infor, and other major ERPs, and is widely used inside eCommerce checkout flows to geo-select valid FFL ship-to destinations. See, for example, Prudent American’s launch with Orchid eBound, eSerial, eFFL API and the BSP NetSuite Firearms Edition (part of the JJE Capital Holdings family, alongside Palmetto State Armory).

 

Questions?

Contact your Orchid customer service or compliance services representative, or visit the Orchid eBound page or Orchid eState / eFFL API page to learn more.

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