Why citizens wanting to know what the rules are even had to ask – and why that was being evaded – only becomes clear when you come to grips with the obvious: ATF knows it doesn’t have a consistent set of standards by which to apply its evaluations. And it’s not like everyone hasn’t been aware of the problem for a long time.
David Codrea
December 23, 2020
ATF Rules Capricious, Arbitrary, Political, and Stupid
[I have nothing to add.—Joe]
My personal experience with ATF of late. If you own a suppressor. Upon moving to a new residence one must inform the ATF of it’s new location. This having been in effect since ’34. One would assume the ATF would have a form for such? Wrong!
So, finding no joy from the ATF website, Forms, resource. I copied my tax stamp. Printed the new address on it. Wrote an explanation on the back, and a cover letter with the same info.
Appox. 1.5 months later I get a letter back telling me I should use the form for relocation of an SBR.( Which one is suppose to get permission of ATF to move or travel with.) And check the box as permanent move status. Okie, Dokie.
I filled out those forms per order. Mailed them back with all the above info again, just to be sure.
2 mos. later I get one of the two forms back, stamped, Rejected. Reason? I forgot to write in method of transportation.
Which is humorous. As at the time I filled out the form. I saw the box. But didn’t want to sound snarky by writing in, Pickup. (Correctly figuring the ATF has no sense of humor.)
All this with the expert at the ATF knowing a suppressor needs no prior approval to move from one location to another. And having the information right in front of them that it had already been moved.
Especially since they mailed the second copy back to me at my new address!???
I’m almost certain I’ve committed a felony some how. As with this bunch I’m pretty sure you could get 20 years for highway mopery.
I’m almost certain I’ve committed a felony some how.
The most serious of which (aka the one that annoys them the most, not necessarily the one with the harshest statuary penalty) is likely filling out the wrong form incorrectly.
This is the trouble with judges, too. They can sit on the bench for months of a murder case, and hear testimony about how the victims were dressed like a deer, and never flinch, or retire to their chambers to “redact” ( a fancy word for decide which evidence is to be allowed entry) the photos of the murder site that look like a slaughterhouse for someone who had only a penknife, and keep his lunch, but LIE in his courtroom after you swore to tell the truth, and HE’S ready to dress you out like a hog using his nail file.
Of course, once we consider that the two groups held in low repute are lawyers and politicians, and a judge is nothing but a politically connected lawyer, we shouldn’t be surprised.
And Merry Christmas, Ya’all! And to you and yours, Joe! Thanks for your blog and all you do keeping us informed and entertained!
Hear hear!
“In an unexpected move, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives tonight withdrew its targeting of a popular firearm, AR-15-style pistols, a huge win for gun advocates.”
Not everyone agrees there is a win involved.
IOW, we’re in a hostile environment where officials of any kind are not your friends, especially when the Biden administration puts their people in charge.
It’s not do as officials say, it’s do as officials intend – or else. If they want your ass they’ve got your ass.
Stories like these make me reconsider holding on to my C&R and just surrendering it. Having it, even though I have never used it, gives them permission to “inspect” my premises and inventory whenever they want.
A FFL with a C&R has the option of making an appointment to take their book(s) to the ATF for inspection.
IIRC, the ATF doesn’t have the power to inspect C&R premises, nor their collection, unlike dealer/manufacturers, unless there’s probable cause to investigate a crime. IANAL.
I had a C&R for several years when I lived in one state to work, but my home of record was in a state that – at the time – required at least a C&R FFL to possess NFA firearms.