By CONNIE FARROW, Associated Press Writer
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Federal authorities equipped with sealed search warrants raided three gun dealers early Tuesday in Springfield, looking for evidence of firearms violations.
The raids were the culmination of a three-year investigation, said Larry Scott, a spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He would not say what agents were looking for or whether anyone was taken into custody.
"I can tell you it's federal firearms violations," Scott said.
Agents were seen carrying what appeared to be weapons from two businesses, Gunsmoke Gun & Pawn and a dealer specializing in Wesley Richards rifles. The two businesses are owned by the same person, he said.
A third dealer, Gunsmoke Gun and Gold Exchange, also was raided, he said. It is owned by a second person.
Scott would not identify the owners of the three businesses.
Scott said about 100 agents were involved, including state and local police, the ATF and the Internal Revenue Service.
He said he didn't expect charges to be announced Tuesday.
Businesses in Marshfield and another in Mountain Grove also were raided Tuesday for alleged federal firearms violations, but Scott said those were the result of a separate investigation.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Federal authorities equipped with sealed search warrants raided three gun dealers early Tuesday in Springfield, looking for evidence of firearms violations.
The raids were the culmination of a three-year investigation, said Larry Scott, a spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He would not say what agents were looking for or whether anyone was taken into custody.
"I can tell you it's federal firearms violations," Scott said.
Agents were seen carrying what appeared to be weapons from two businesses, Gunsmoke Gun & Pawn and a dealer specializing in Wesley Richards rifles. The two businesses are owned by the same person, he said.
A third dealer, Gunsmoke Gun and Gold Exchange, also was raided, he said. It is owned by a second person.
Scott would not identify the owners of the three businesses.
Scott said about 100 agents were involved, including state and local police, the ATF and the Internal Revenue Service.
He said he didn't expect charges to be announced Tuesday.
Businesses in Marshfield and another in Mountain Grove also were raided Tuesday for alleged federal firearms violations, but Scott said those were the result of a separate investigation.