Today we’d like to introduce you to Angel Velez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. I came to the United States when I joined the Navy at 21 y/o back in 2002. While in the Navy, I did travel to many places, from the Middle East, Europe to Asia and of course various locations in the US. In 2023, due to injuries incurred in the Navy, they started the process to retired me. I started thinking on what to do, and I realized that the Navy provided me with many skills that can be use in the world. So, I started the idea of combining my skills of understanding paperwork and firearms with my passion for upholding the second amendment. So, I decided to make a business offering just firearms transfers business. Which required background checks and paperwork. So, I got the license from the ATF and settle in a transfer fee of just $20 per transaction. Which is below market and achieved my goal of help enabling law abiding citizens to exercise legally the right to bear arms.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Believed or not, the ATF was very helpful in their process as well the FDLE. The hardest part is to get an affordable way to provided credit card transactions. In order to survive in the business, I have to go straight cash because the fees that they want to charge is more than what I am charging, which make it an impediment for small business starting from nothing. Additionally, the first 2 years I was still in the Navy. I started on January 2024 and just retired on November 30, 2025, after 23 years of service and rated 100% permanent and total V.A. Disable. At one point I was offering personalized tax services because I have a BS in Accounting and am MBA in Finance, but have to stop due to my traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms not allowing me to concentrate and focus enough and preferred to stop that rather than risking doing wrong to anyone.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialized on firearms transfer for customers that buy their firearms online. When firearms are bought online, they still have to got to the process filing their ATF forms and completed successfully a an Florida Department of Law Enforcement background check before they can take possession of the firearm. So, I do that for an affordable price. Must business charge between $30 to $45 per transaction and I only charge $20. My intentions for this business is more than making money. I am doing this because I want to enable law-abiding citizens to legally acquire firearms that they can use for recreational activities as well as self defense. I believe that a citizenry who is legally arm provide for a safer community.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Don’t judge by their looks. Judge people by their character. You will be surprised on how many people get denied for firearms. Also, people appreciated the work I do and get a lot of repeated customers. If you are straight forward with what you doing with people all works out. Clear expectations create great results. Clear accounts keep friendships.
Pricing:
- $20 for transfers of up to 3 firearms in the same transaction..
- $30 for 4 or more firearms in the transfer in the same transaction.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.saintjosepharmory.com
