message to representative regarding ATF

[GI_Jared]

Please feel free to use the following template as a message to your representative over recent examples of ATF mis-treatment of FFL dealers.

Find your representatives here

Dear Representative,

On March 15th, 2014 a firearms store located in Oceanside California was raided by the ATF. This raid was conducted in spite of a recently granted restraining order filed by Ares Armor (the raided firearms store) against the ATF. The ATF confiscated customer records from the store and is now being queried by congressman Darrel Issa in regards to legality of the actions taken.

Over the last several years other cases where the ATF has used pressure tactics to copy customer records from Federal Firearms Licensed dealers have occurred. Alaska Representative Don Young met with the director of the ATF in the summer of 2012 and was assured that practices like this were not condoned. He was also told that they were looking into how to prevent such behavior in the future, but the illegal acquisition of customer data still seems to happen.

In summer 2013 a firearms dealer in Sanford Maine by the name of Pac N Arms received the same treatment. That store owner is currently pursuing legal action against the ATF, but is facing an uphill battle.

I am concerned that the FFL dealers in our state are being harassed by the ATF until they feel no option but to give up customer records. Please work with the afore mentioned representatives to ensure that the ATF is following the laws set forth by the house you were elected to serve.

Sincerely,

Your Name

 

[JSH1]

Feel free to send such a letter if you want to show yourself to be uninformed on the topic. The search warrant exercised on ARES and the ATF scanning FFL' s records are separate matters.

 

[Ryanxia]

They may be separate situations but both relate to abuses of power by a corrupt federal agency. I'm intimately familiar with both situations mentioned above and there are quite a few similarities in the ATF's tactics. Our representatives need to know that their constituents are concerned about this 'answer to no one, do what we want' agency that even congress has not been able to get answers out of (and don't seem to care).

There is a very real threat to our Liberty here, you can only claim lack of training of a specific agent so many times before it's clear that this practice of tracking down law abiding gun owners by any means necessary is becoming ATF policy.

Who will watch the watchers? As the very old saying goes.

 

[JSH1]

The letter above pretends that the ATF raided ARES in violation of a restraining order. They did not. When presented with the restraining order the ATF left ARES, went to the judge to have the restraining order modified, got a search warrant, and then exercised that search warrant.

 

[Ryanxia]

The letter above pretends that the ATF raided ARES in violation of a restraining order. They did not. When presented with the restraining order the ATF left ARES, went to the judge to have the restraining order modified, got a search warrant, and then exercised that search warrant.

I know we're splitting hairs but I believe they went to a different judge and got him (didn't say bribed/blackmailed ) to state that the restraining order did not apply to "criminal investigations". Which I would think is the only reason the ATF would be entering a premises without permission anyways... Regardless, I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong) that the judge in no way modified or removed the restraining order, just found a loophole. I mean we can't have those pesky laws getting in the way.

 

[dogtown tom]

Ryanxia

Quote:
Originally Posted by JSH1 View Post
The letter above pretends that the ATF raided ARES in violation of a restraining order. They did not. When presented with the restraining order the ATF left ARES, went to the judge to have the restraining order modified, got a search warrant, and then exercised that search warrant.

I know we're splitting hairs but I believe they went to a different judge and got him (didn't say bribed/blackmailed ) to state that the restraining order did not apply to "criminal investigations".

Which is the way it should be, otherwise any jackleg criminal could just run out and get a restraining order to keep the cops off his tail.

As far as "didn't say bribed/blackmailed"......then why write it? Before you go throwing around conjecture about bribery or blackmail of a judge you better have some evidence of such wrongdoing. It isn't cute, it doesn't help the cause of the Second Amendment, and is a tactic that obfuscates the real issue. You don't know what evidence the ATF presented to that judge, and quite likely we'll never know unless this goes to trial.

...... I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong) that the judge in no way modified or removed the restraining order, just found a loophole. I mean we can't have those pesky laws getting in the way.

TRO's aren't laws.
And a pro 2nd Amendment advocate complaining about "loopholes" is kinda funny.

 

[JSH1]

I believe the restraining order was modified but it doesn't really matter. If one is going to write their representative about the ATF copying FFL's records without cause it isn't the best idea to start your letter with an example of the ATF seizing a non FFL's records with a Federal search warrant. Again, two separate issues.

 

[Ryanxia]

I believe the restraining order was modified but it doesn't really matter. If one is going to write their representative about the ATF copying FFL's records without cause it isn't the best idea to start your letter with an example of the ATF seizing a non FFL's records with a Federal search warrant. Again, two separate issues.

I agree the OP's letter should possibly be reworded, and a more focused action requested on the part of the representatives, just saying I agree with his concern that our reps need to be aware that the over reach of a federal agency is a growing problem/concern for citizens.