The highest convection rate of any federal law enforcement agency.
Posted on 03/22/2007 3:29:49 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Red's Trading Post in Twin Falls, Idaho, is the state's oldest gun shop, opened since 1936. In 2004, a routine BATFE audit revealed minor clerical errors. According to Red's, out of nearly ten THOUSAND firearms transferred between 1996 and 2004, the alleged error rate did not even reach 1%. Even the BATFE acknowledges these are minor paperwork errors -- there are no missing firearms and no willful illegal acts.
And yet the BATFE has revoked the ability of Red's Trading Post to acquire firearms for resale, although they're still permitted to sell the firearms in stock ... for now. But that's not enough -- the BATFE wants to revoke Red's license permanently.
Red's appealed, was denied, and are now headed to federal court. They have spent over two years and $20,000 in legal fees in this battle and are now taking it public. You can read more about Red's Trading Post at http://www.redstradingpost.com/atf.php and view their fact sheet (in MS Word format) at www.jpfo.org/redsatffactsheet.doc .
The Red's Trading Post site even includes an article about a competitor -- Blue Lakes Sporting Goods -- who was similarly railroaded by the BATFE. In an act of supreme hubris, the BATFE actually denied the Blue Lakes the right to appeal until AFTER they were in the middle of a "Going Out of Business" sale!
Unfortunately, as our readers know, this is hardly unusual behavior for the BATFE.
During the March 28, 2006 Congressional BATFE hearings, attorney Richard Gardiner testified that the BATFE's "enforcement" tends to focus on trivial violations that do not affect public safety, and that the BATFE imposes an unreasonable standard of perfection on FFLs ( http://judiciary.house.gov/media/pdfs/gardiner032806a.pdf ). That latter is especially ironic considering the extremely poor state of the BATFE's own record-keeping, about which they routinely perjure themselves in court (see and hear it from the mouth of the NFA Branch chief himself at http://www.jpfo.org/rollcall.mp4 ).
JPFO understands that enough is enough. We plan to bring this rogue agency to its knees with our upcoming documentary _The Gang_ ( www.jpfo.org/thegang.htm). Throughout its production, we've received help from criminal investigators, historians, attorneys, BATFE victims, rock legend Ted Nugent, Knob Creek Enterprises, _Unintended Consequences_ author John Ross, and many others. Everyone who understands the true threat to our freedoms that the BATFE poses owes these people a very big thank you.
We plan to list these heroes in the Producer's Circle of the film credits -- it's the least we can do. And it's not too late for YOU to join them. If you want to be listed in the Producers circle, we need your contribution RIGHT NOW. Go to http://shop.jpfo.org/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=16 . A donation of $250 or more will get you listed, plus you'll receive a free DVD copy of the finished film and a copy of our book _"Gun Control": Gateway to Tyranny_.
Do it for Red's Trading Post. Do it for Blue Lakes Sporting Goods. Do it for ALL the victims of the BATFE's arbitrary, capricious "enforcement". Most of all, do it for yourself.
Do it today.
- The Liberty Crew
JPFO
P.O. Box 270143
Hartford, WI 53027
Phone (262) 673-9745
Fax (262) 673-9746
jpfo@jpfo.org
A fed pal of mine informed me that a letter had been circulated throughout his agency instructing their agents who were about to attend advanced firearms training at the FLETEC center in Georgia to please not refer to any BATFE students they might encounter as *BATFECES*, at least not to their faces.
It seems they don't like the mame the other feds now call them.... I'm going to try to get him to fax or text me a copy of the letter, which I'll helpfully post after removing any identifying names or numbers.
Actually, they could have started earlier, while B.J. was still in the executive mansion. That's more than 8 years...
This problem wasn't brought to their attention 8 years ago. I'm done trying to explain the legislative process and the reality of this situation .
Many different gun issues have been addressed and were in the process of being addressed when the Republicans were in control. It takes alot of time and work to get these bills passed in a clean manner. They usually aren't priority bills anyway . No sense debating it now , the Dims are in control ....enjoy !
I voted Republican - my whole family did. Wasn't happy at all about their performance but held my nose for it. That gives me the right to complain about them spending like sailors on shore leave, and liking the power rush in the Beltway too much to do anything useful. The Democrats were more effective in the minority than all the Republicans together. The Republicans cowered everytime the MSM threw a contrived histrionic squealing fit - which was more often than a gang of 13-year old girls at a pajama party, and they left alot of unfinished business like this, like the UN, etc.
Please do - I have a friend who is a retired federal LEO (different department & different agency) who would very definitely appreciate it. Although, from what I hear, the Treasury explosives folks are 100% world-class (so it's a shame they have to put up with the jokes generated by the 'ill-advised' actions of some of the firearms guys)...
Waco happened far longer than 8 years ago and if that wasn't a wake up call to the Congress, I don't know what is.
Every last manjack of that assault squad, up to and including Janet Reno should be behind bars today or, preferably, pushing up daisies.
People who watch the News, even CNN, can at least see for themselves what happened. It doesn't take alot of smarts to see that the BATF has been a rogue agency for many years.
You don't need to "explain" a thing to me. I am very well aware of how our system of government works.
The FACT remains, they knew a long time ago that one of their agencies had a problem and yet still never did a damned thing about it.
I'll take a bad Republican congress over a bad Dimocrat congress anyday , there are major differences . Oh well , doesn't matter now .
We are talking about two different items . I was addressing the gun dealer oversight bill . They've found a far more effective way to eliminate gun ownership and that is by eliminating gun dealers through "clerical errors". This is an important issue that we will unfortunately never see addressed under Dim control .
Ahhh sorry, didn't realize you were talking about that.
I was referring directly to getting rid of the BATF.
Miscomm apology.
I'd take a bad Democrat Congress with a tough-as-nails Republican President over what we've witnessed during these golden opportunity years. They have the narrowest of majorities now in both houses and it feels like they have they have the power they did in the 1930's. For the Republicans to arise from this they'll need to grow a pair and go reclaim that Contract. "Big-government" conservatism is just proof of Lord Acton's warning.
No worries. I wish they had absorbed them into other agencies back when they were "talking" about doing it.
I have a feeling it's a monumental task to undertake such a boat rocking change. We're stuck with it .
The highest convection rate of any federal law enforcement agency.
Don't expect it anytime soon . The Dims know how to abuse their power to retain control, and they will surely do it .
bump
Oh for the good old days (pre Dec 1968) when you could walk into any gun store,in any state, filling station, western clothing store, grocery store, kitchen, and lay your money down and walk out with a fine handgun or rifle Those days are long gone.
Huh why is it that we start seeing these enforcement actions every year march/April timeframe. Must be budget approval time.
Powerful website that unfortunately is a predictor of the future for those that don't conform to Big Brother.
http://www.wizardsofaz.com/waco/picturethis.html
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.