BATFE removes the cleats from their jackboots.
JPFO has just received a rare bit of good news about the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In at
least one area of operations, the BATFE is making a
dramatic turnaround.
The agency is functioning with a new spirit of cooperation
toward gun-makers.
It began last month. The new attitude was inspired by the
actions of heroic firearms manufacturer and, we're proud to
say, by JPFO's alerts about that man's courage.
Remember that on January 3, JPFO issued an alert
(http://www.jpfo.org/alert20050103.htm) detailing
Len Savage's stand against one particular BATFE injustice.
Len is the owner of Historic Arms, which makes semi-
automatic versions of famous military rifles. He was also
an expert witness against BATFE wrongdoing.
The BATFE's first response to Len's calm defiance was
predictable and typical. Within two days, they declared
that a firearm Len had sent for their approval (an SGMB, a
copy of a Hungarian/Russian firearm) was an "illegal
machine gun" -- even though it was clearly semi-automatic.
They confiscated the gun and it looked as if Len might be
intended as the next victim of an "economic Waco."
But then the story took an unusual turn. Instead of bowing
down, Len marshaled his facts and kept on fighting. He
fought not only for his own rights, but he kept making
noise about other BATFE injustices.
The BATFE must have realized it had an unusual, and
intransigent, opponent.
In February, after Len simply welded an interference rail
more strongly to the "illegal machine gun," the BATFE
declared the SGMB legal again and returned it to him.
Within a week, they had approved Len's next firearm (a
semi-automatic version of the MAG-58/U.S. M-240 machine
gun) with no changes.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL
Suddenly, Len was receiving calls from gun makers all
around the country. "I don't know what you did," they said.
"But thank you."
These gun makers -- who have typically had to wait three to
six months for approvals of their designs -- were getting
approvals in two weeks.
The BATFE Tech Branch was answering, instead of ignoring,
their questions.
The BATFE's tech experts were being cooperative and polite.
They were being helpful. And they still are.
This is just one step on the road to restoring American
rights. But it is a step in the right direction.
Len says, "I'm very thankful for the BATFE's new
cooperative attitude. My only hope is that this state of
affairs is not temporary. This affects much more than just
me; it affects everyone who must work with the BATFE."
What is Len Savage's secret? "If you want to stand for your
rights when dealing with the BATFE, document everything.
Have your facts together. Don't just shoot off your mouth.
Be polite. But when you know you're right and you can prove
it, never back down and don't be afraid to speak up."
He adds, "After all, if you're not willing to stand up for
your rights, do you even deserve to have rights?"
Congratulations to Len Savage. Continued good fortune to
America's gun-makers. And even some thanks to the BATFE for
trying to do the right thing. JPFO is proud to have played
a part in making this change happen.
- The Liberty Crew
JPFO has just received a rare bit of good news about the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In at
least one area of operations, the BATFE is making a
dramatic turnaround.
The agency is functioning with a new spirit of cooperation
toward gun-makers.
It began last month. The new attitude was inspired by the
actions of heroic firearms manufacturer and, we're proud to
say, by JPFO's alerts about that man's courage.
Remember that on January 3, JPFO issued an alert
(http://www.jpfo.org/alert20050103.htm) detailing
Len Savage's stand against one particular BATFE injustice.
Len is the owner of Historic Arms, which makes semi-
automatic versions of famous military rifles. He was also
an expert witness against BATFE wrongdoing.
The BATFE's first response to Len's calm defiance was
predictable and typical. Within two days, they declared
that a firearm Len had sent for their approval (an SGMB, a
copy of a Hungarian/Russian firearm) was an "illegal
machine gun" -- even though it was clearly semi-automatic.
They confiscated the gun and it looked as if Len might be
intended as the next victim of an "economic Waco."
But then the story took an unusual turn. Instead of bowing
down, Len marshaled his facts and kept on fighting. He
fought not only for his own rights, but he kept making
noise about other BATFE injustices.
The BATFE must have realized it had an unusual, and
intransigent, opponent.
In February, after Len simply welded an interference rail
more strongly to the "illegal machine gun," the BATFE
declared the SGMB legal again and returned it to him.
Within a week, they had approved Len's next firearm (a
semi-automatic version of the MAG-58/U.S. M-240 machine
gun) with no changes.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL
Suddenly, Len was receiving calls from gun makers all
around the country. "I don't know what you did," they said.
"But thank you."
These gun makers -- who have typically had to wait three to
six months for approvals of their designs -- were getting
approvals in two weeks.
The BATFE Tech Branch was answering, instead of ignoring,
their questions.
The BATFE's tech experts were being cooperative and polite.
They were being helpful. And they still are.
This is just one step on the road to restoring American
rights. But it is a step in the right direction.
Len says, "I'm very thankful for the BATFE's new
cooperative attitude. My only hope is that this state of
affairs is not temporary. This affects much more than just
me; it affects everyone who must work with the BATFE."
What is Len Savage's secret? "If you want to stand for your
rights when dealing with the BATFE, document everything.
Have your facts together. Don't just shoot off your mouth.
Be polite. But when you know you're right and you can prove
it, never back down and don't be afraid to speak up."
He adds, "After all, if you're not willing to stand up for
your rights, do you even deserve to have rights?"
Congratulations to Len Savage. Continued good fortune to
America's gun-makers. And even some thanks to the BATFE for
trying to do the right thing. JPFO is proud to have played
a part in making this change happen.
- The Liberty Crew
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OK. I'm awake now. It was only a dream.