ATF at Gunshows

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LubeckTech

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This weekend I was at a small gunshow (15-25 vendors) in the Parkersburg, WV area and the ATF had a table there. They were not bothering anyone but were answering questions and providing literature including C&R and maybe FFL applications. Is this becoming more commonplace? I have never seen them at a show before. It was staffed by two nice ladies and my theory is in light of the "Fast & Furious" scandal and current bad PR for the government ATF is trying to put on a kinder & gentler face.
 
I've seen something like that before, maybe at the Nation's Gun Show down in Chantilly, VA? (Can't quite remember at this point.)

Hey, why not? If their representatives can be well-versed in gun transfer laws and answer questions for folks, and for dealers who might need a quick interpretation, that would be just great. There'd be the problem of them not being able to make binding determinations on fine points, which might make it tricky. But as long as they said "I don't know, write to this address for the actual answer..." when they weren't on firm ground that would be ok.
 
I've not seen ATF tables at guns shows around here, but the Border Patrol has had tables with recruitment information at several of the larger shows.
 
Given their history and reputation, I have no doubt they make an appearance at many gun shows. Doing things like informing a seller that they're from out of state and want to buy a gun anyway.
 
It suprised me that they were at such a small show but I think one of their main offices is in Wheeling, WV so it is not a bad drive. I didn't hang around long but the ladies seemed knowlegeable.
 
They always have a table at gun shows held at the Pima County Fairgrounds (Tucson). The table, manned by both male and occasionally female agents faces the main entrance where they can observe those coming and going. As previously stated they answer questions and hand out literature. At times one or more may walk around and watch what’s going on.

I suspect that they’re presence is more common as one gets closer to the U.S./Mexican border. :uhoh: :rolleyes:
 
Probably trying to crack down on the Air Soft guns that can be converted into real functioning firearms.
 
ATF has been at every FL gun show I have attended, usually with a table by the front door. Is that a predetermined position to try through passive aggression to stymie private sales? I do not know. They were pleasant, (and I am sure observing) what was happening.
 
Given their history and reputation, I have no doubt they make an appearance at many gun shows. Doing things like informing a seller that they're from out of state and want to buy a gun anyway.
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Something like that actually happened to me years ago. Back in the days when FTF sales were still legal in MD, my club always had a table at local shows for members to sell stuff. I had a couple of handguns to sell. When a fellow said he wanted to buy one, I asked to see his driver's license. Why, he said. Uh, because if you're not a MD resident I can't sell you this gun. BS, he said; there's no such law. I told him to go try to sucker someone else.
 
If you believe that everyone that comes into a gun show who is not familiar with all of the various state and federal gun regs is an ATF agent, then about 90% of the gun show buyers around here are ATF agents.
 
I know some people that work for the ATF and, trust me, they have always been there. You may not know they are there but they are there. They always have been, at least in my neck of the woods.
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Ironic, really, that we hear of so few arrests at gun shows (or related to purchases made at gun shows). A few, sure, but usually the few we hear about get a lot of attention in the gun community. Going by actual accounts posted, such arrests are pretty darned rare.

Wonder if that's a function of not as much reporting as we'd expect, or they really don't make very many arrests at or because of gun shows? (Or maybe they're really only "there" in spirit, rather than fact, more often than not?)
 
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They have had a table at just about every large show around here for the 30+ years I have been going. They used to have regular "seminars" for FFL's, don't know if that's still true. Joe
 
A few, sure, but usually the few we hear about get a lot of attention in the gun community. Going by actual accounts posted, such arrests are pretty darned rare.
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your hanging out on the wrong online communities. maybe try the thuglife.com forums or convictforlife.com???? :)


I do know of a professional boxer, who happened to be a convicted felon, who was nabbed at a gun show in Austin TX a couple years ago... He ended up doing time at club Fed for purchasing a handgun. Im sure it happenes more than we think.. I just personally dont run in those circles to be in the know....
 
LOL! Ok, that's a good point. But how many of us have seen, or even heard of in our local areas, the ATF making a bust or sting at a gun show? There was some hassling of folks down in VA a few years back, IIRC, but that kind of proves my point -- it got national coverage.

Heck, I've been at a guns show while a suicide happened, but I've never seen an ATF bust. Doesn't prove my point, but if I didn't know better, my experience would make me think suicides are more common at gun shows that law enforcement actions!
 
A local gun shop employee was at the Tulsa Wanamaker's show, where he chatted with an ATF agent. The visit to the show could have been two, three years ago.

The agent told the employee that their primary focus was watching for "stolen AR components".
 
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I've seen the ATF set up a table here in Tucson at a gunshow or two.

I was able to pick up some forms and big, fat, books of gun-related regulations.

The agents were courteous and helpful.
 
Sam, it just might be that there really aren't nearly as many illegal sales at gun shows as the liberal press would like the general public to believe:

"Why there were people at the gun show buying HUNDREDS of bullets, and no one even asked then what they needed THAT MANY bullets for, and no one asked for identification or anything! We even saw people buying (gasp) 30 round magazines for their machine guns!!" Oh the horror of it all!:cuss:
 
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