Sounds to me like they're standardizing their processes, stream lining if you will in preparation for the inevitable. From the Government!Nah, this one is all on Cabela's.
Here is the short version of the story: A few years ago, a convicted felon bought a percussion black powder revolver from Cabela's. Felon then used it to murder someone. Cabela's was sued for selling it to the felon. Even though by federal law they were not required to perform any kind of background check on people buying percussion black powder revolvers, evidently the case brought was that it was an illegal sale in Ohio. The gist of the available text is that somehow the felon revealed that he was a felon but the Cabela's employee sold to him anyway.
https://ohioccwforums.org/viewtopic.php?t=92189&start=15
https://cooperelliott.com/cooper-el...ping-policy-changes-for-a-major-gun-retailer/
In response, Cabela's stopped shipping muzzleloading/percussion arms in the mail to your doorstep. In addition, you have to go to the store and fill out a "fake 4473". It is like the 4473, but has no government use or standing. It's just a CYA form for Cabela's.
Cabela's could have continued to ship mail order and just have an online form or checkbox you filled out just like their fake 4473.
But, they caved and decided to stop mail order delivery of black powder firearms.
There are many vendors that will ship to your doorstep no problem.
Not to mention simplifying the process for those employees who don't know which end the bullet comes out of.