Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms has asked Congress to stop funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE). Until “Democrats and federal bureaucrats publicly acknowledge Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens, and cease their attacks on legal gun ownership,”
The 10 Things the BATFE doesn’t Want You To Know
The ATF is responsible for any loss of $1.9 billion Joe Biden proposes to them in his FY2024 budget. The agency creates its own laws and then enforces them with extreme zeal. This fact has been noticed by a few courts. The ATF (BATFE), is out of control and seems to be immune to the normal checks and balances federal law enforcement agencies face.
Many of its flaws are well-known, especially those that led to the deaths of innocent Americans. Here are some facts and blunders that the ATF would prefer that you not mention.
Non-Serialized Firearms
The ATF doesn’t distinguish between homemade firearms which don’t legally require a serial number and factory-made firearms whose serial numbers have been illegally altered, defaced or removed by criminals. The ATF (BATFE), considers all firearms that do not have a serial number to be “ghost weapons.”
Since the invention of the term “ghost guns”, the ATF has been manipulating statistics. It is important to note that most states allow the construction of homemade firearms.
Administrative Charges
ATF’s majority of criminal charges are filed administratively following an arrest by another law enforcement agency. ATF may be asked by police to file federal charges against an armed criminal who has been convicted of a felony in the past. This is usually a more severe penalty than state charges.
The ATF is credited with the investigation and subsequent prosecution. It allowed it to manipulate the stats once again by claiming that it was part its Project Safe Neighborhoods program (PSN).
Firearm Industry Does Not Trust ATF
Bumpstock manufacturers, makers of aftermarket triggers and the genius behind pistol brace, which was initially designed for disabled veterans all have one thing in commun: They all received determination letters by the ATF stating that their accessories were safe and not subject to regulation under the National Firearms Act. This would have been devastating for their business.
After succumbing politically to pressure, the ATF(BATFE) changed its mind. Machineguns were created from bumpstocks and certain drop in triggers. More than 40 million pistol braces could be made into Short Barrel Rifles.
Court will likely resolve the agency’s newfound desire to write and enforce its own laws. It will be a costly and lengthy process. I know of at most one small trigger manufacturer that is waiting for the next administration to review their products before sending them to the ATF.
Staff Revile Leadership
Gun guys and gun gals make up some of ATF’s rank and file agents. They joined the agency for many reasons. They joined the agency to help the poor, protect the public, and qualify for a federal retirement.
They’ll tell you that there are two types of ATFs. The careerists who are willing to put in the effort and work hard, and the political appointed leadership. Every single agent I have ever met eventually takes umbrage at their leadership. Agents blame political appointees. These included Waco, Ruby Ridge and Fast and Furious, all of which led to the deaths of civilians.
Secret Gun Registry
ATF was caught twice creating an illegal gun registry. This is a violation federal law. First, we discovered that agents were digitizing thousands upon thousands of Form 4473s. The forms were sent to the agency from gun dealers who had retired, quit, or gone out of business.
An Arizona gun dealer then caught an ATF inspector photographing her paperwork with her cellphone. These clear violations of federal law have not been punished to date.
Selective Memory
The ATF website does not mention Ruby Ridge, Randy Weaver, or the 11-day standoff in which Weaver’s son, Deputy U.S., and wife were killed. Marshal William Degan. There is also nothing on the website about Brian Terry, a Border Patrol Agent who was shot and killed. Terry was killed by a gun that the ATF allowed to enter Mexico as part its “Fast and Furious” debacle.
The ATF dedicates only one page of its website to the Waco siege. It is still trying to shift blame for the more that 70 deaths.
“An investigation by the Departments of Treasury and Justice into the actions of law enforcement officers during the siege revealed that some tactics and decisions were not well executed. ATF actions were also criticised. The September 1993 U.S. Department of Treasury Administrative Review concluded that ‘… “The agency is composed of dedicated, committed, and experienced professionals who have consistently demonstrated sound judgments and remarkable courage in the enforcement of the law,” ATF’s website states.
Recruitment of Mentally Disabled Informants
A Milwaukee newspaper reported in 2013 that the ATF had established storefront stings. One of the revelations is that ATF agents recruited mentally disabled individuals to act as informants. These informants were initially attributed to “rogue” agents operating in Milwaukee. The newspaper revealed that the tactic of recruiting informants with low intelligence was not uncommon and was also used in Pensacola and Albuquerque.
FFL Revocations for Clerical Errors
Since Joe Biden declared war against America’s guns, the number of Federal Firearm Licences that have been revoked has increased by more than 500%. Many of these revocations are due to clerical errors. These errors could have been fixed with a pencil eraser long before Biden became president. ATF’s zero tolerance policy today allows no excuses. Any error is deemed a willful violation by ATF rules and results in revocation.
Ignores FOIA Requests
The ATF is known for not responding to Freedom of Information Act requests (FOIA), if it doesn’t seem too controversial. If the response is embarrassing, the agency will ignore FOIAs. The Freedom of Information Act, regardless of whether the ATF likes or not is federal law. It is unconscionable for a federal law enforcement agency to knowingly violate federal law.
Bosses get bonuses
ATF whistleblower revealed that two years ago, ATF (BATFE), was giving 25% bonuses to administrators who didn’t qualify for the pay bump. The Law Enforcement Availability Payment, or LEAP, bonuses were only for “criminal investigators”. This includes those who work irregular shifts or are on-call at all times.
Administrators were not eligible for LEAP bonuses. A subsequent investigation by Office of Personnel Management revealed that ATF had paid at least 94 employees in an inappropriate manner and concluded that ATF had engaged in prohibited personnel practices.
This story was originally published by the Second Amendment Foundation. Visit SAF.org for more information about Second Amendment Foundation.
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Personal Defense World published the article 10 Things the ATF (BatFE) Doesn’t Want you to Know.
