How ShootingTalk Verifies Information
Every structured data record on ShootingTalk — safety notices, FFL listings, state law pages, club profiles, and events — carries a Data Status badge showing where the information came from, when it was last reviewed, and a direct link to report a correction.
This page explains what each badge means, what sources we use, how often records are reviewed, and what happens when you submit a correction.
Status badges — what each one means
The record has been checked against an official government, manufacturer, or organization website. The information matches what the issuing authority currently publishes.
Appears on: Safety notices confirmed against CPSC or manufacturer pages; state law pages verified against official government sources; ATF licensing information confirmed against ATF.gov.
The record was imported directly from the ATF Federal Firearms Licensing dataset — a public government database. The data reflects what the ATF publishes and has not been independently edited.
Appears on: FFL dealer directory listings. The ATF dataset is updated periodically; individual records may lag behind real-world license changes.
The record originates from an official manufacturer announcement, press release, or product safety bulletin published on the manufacturer's own website or press channel.
Appears on: Safety notices sourced from manufacturer recall pages. The notice content reflects what the manufacturer has published; ShootingTalk does not modify or editorialize the original announcement.
A verified representative of the organization has claimed this listing and is responsible for keeping it accurate. The representative's identity has been confirmed by ShootingTalk.
Appears on: Shooting club and range profiles, FFL dealer listings where the dealer has claimed their profile.
The record was submitted by a ShootingTalk member. Community submissions are not independently verified unless they are also marked Official Source or Organization Claimed. Treat them as member-provided information.
Appears on: Events submitted by members, club profiles not yet claimed, forum-sourced tips that have been published but not yet cross-checked.
A correction has been submitted for this record, or the record has been flagged for review. The current information may be inaccurate. Our team is actively working to resolve it.
Appears on: Any record type where a correction report has been received and is pending resolution.
The record is no longer active — the event date has passed, the license has lapsed, or the recall program has been closed. Archived records are retained for reference.
Appears on: Past events, lapsed FFL licenses, closed recall programs.
Where data comes from
The source label on each record tells you the category of the authoritative authority behind the data.
Government / ATF Data
Records sourced from federal or state government databases — primarily the ATF Federal Firearms Licensing dataset and state law official publications.
Examples: FFL dealer directory, state firearm law pages, reciprocity data.
Official Manufacturer Notice
Safety bulletins and recall announcements published directly by firearms manufacturers on their official websites or press channels.
Examples: Safety notices, product recall alerts.
Official Organization Website
Information sourced from the official website of a shooting club, range, or industry organization.
Examples: Club and range profiles, event listings from USPSA/IDPA/NRA/NSSF.
Community Submission
Information submitted by a ShootingTalk member. Not independently verified unless additionally marked as Official Source or Organization Claimed.
Examples: Member-submitted events, unclaimed club profiles.
How often records are reviewed
CPSC recall feed
Every 6 hoursAutomated check of the CPSC recall database.
Manufacturer recall pages
Every 8 hoursAutomated scan of 26+ major manufacturer safety pages.
ATF FFL dataset
MonthlyFull re-import of the ATF Federal Firearms Licensing dataset.
State law pages
WeeklyAutomated check for official state government law updates.
Active safety notices
MonthlyManual review of all active notices against official sources.
Correction reports
Within 48 hoursMember-submitted correction reports reviewed by our team.
What the Data Status strip looks like
On detail pages — FFL profiles, safety notices, state law pages, club profiles, and event pages — you'll see a panel like this near the bottom of the page content:
On list pages and cards, a compact version of the strip appears as a single row showing the status badge, review date, and a report link.
Reporting incorrect or missing information
Every Data Status strip includes a Report Incorrect Information link. You can also use the forms below. Include a link to the official source that contradicts the current information — this is the fastest path to a correction.
Data Correction Form
Incorrect details on an existing record — wrong address, outdated status, wrong severity.
General Report
Missing records, safety notices not yet listed, or other data concerns.
Correction reports are reviewed within 48 hours. Records under active review are marked Under Review until resolved.
Frequently asked questions
Does every page on ShootingTalk show a Data Status badge?
Data Status strips appear on all data-sensitive pages: safety notices, FFL dealer profiles, state law pages, reciprocity information, club and range profiles, and event detail pages. Static content pages (forums, guides, articles) do not carry a strip because they are community discussion or editorial content, not structured data records.
What does "Last Reviewed" mean?
Last Reviewed is the date our team or automated system last confirmed the record against its official source. It does not mean the record was changed on that date — it means the information was checked and found to be accurate as of that date.
Can a Community Submitted record ever become Official Source?
Yes. When our team cross-checks a community-submitted record against an official source and confirms it is accurate, the status is upgraded to Official Source or Official-source reviewed. The original submitter is not credited publicly.
What happens when I submit a correction?
Your report goes to our moderation queue. We review it against the official source you provide. If the correction is confirmed, we update the record and change the status to Official Source. If the record is already under active review, the status shows Under Review until resolved.
Is ShootingTalk an official source for any of this information?
No. ShootingTalk is a community aggregation and information platform. We surface and organize information from official sources for member convenience. Always verify critical information — especially safety notices and state laws — directly with the issuing authority before acting.
Why do some FFL listings say "Not yet claimed"?
FFL dealer records are imported from the ATF public dataset. The dealer has not yet claimed their listing on ShootingTalk. Claimed listings allow the dealer to add hours, services, photos, and contact details. The underlying license data still comes from the ATF regardless of claim status.
Disclaimer. ShootingTalk is a community information resource, not an official authority. Data Status badges reflect our best effort to source and review information accurately, but we do not guarantee completeness or real-time accuracy. Always verify critical information — safety notices, state laws, FFL license status — directly with the issuing authority. See our Legal Disclaimer for full terms.