Local Gun Shops Targeted

[rwsmith]

My wife's relatives....

First off, I am a small FFL licensed dealer. Many of us have not been audited for many years, in my case over 25 years since I have been inspected/audited. Years of doing things the same way isn't always the right way. I urge any FFL holder to become a member of the NSSF (National Shooting Sports Foundation), they have a wealth of information available to help dealers stay in compliance. The $100 a year is well worth it.
What I am reading is that firearms traces are the biggest reason for revocation. When a firearm has been used in a crime or seized by LE for other reasons, an ATF trace is started to determine where, when and who sold to. An FFL that has a large number of traces indicates that firearms are being sold to "straw buyers" a BIG No, No.

....were as honest and diligent as the day is long. Somehow, the Feds got wind of a 'straw purchase' made in the store, I doubt that it was intentional on the part of the seller, but they closed the entire pawn shop down and showed up at my wife's nephew's house even though he had quit two weeks before the incident and gave him all kinds of HEAT and scared him kinda bad. I wish I knew the details, if they didn't pass the 4473, it's clearly their fault, but if they didn't know it was a straw purchase and the person lied on the 4473, that ain't good blaming the store for that. I believe that they are using ANY discrepancy for grounds to shut the places down. This happened in Mims, Florida.

This came a few days after the gun range I frequented went ape **** because they thought I 'might' have an illegal stock on my AR, which was ridiculous, as it was a standard collapsing stock, but apparently they had been scared by some crackdown on gun store/ranges somewhere. I think I'll ask the owner about this incident.

 

[LVSteve]

Now THERE's an interesting and unconventional suggestion

There were no links in the OP.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Maybe read the links?

The OP posted no link, only innuendo.

 

[sjmjax]

More details would be helpful. However in a business as highly regulated as firearms sales and with complex local, state and federal rules, it's not difficult to find unintentional violations.

Question is whether or not they are being targeted and use these minor infractions to put them out of business?

 

[BC38]

There were no links in the OP.

Nope, but there were a couple of VERY informative links in post #5 - just before the question about the definition of "going after" FFLs was raised in post #6.

This illustrates why it is important to read ALL of the previous posts (and relevant content) posted in a thread BEFORE posting a comment, since these threads are a "running conversation".

The OP is just the conversation starter. Following the thread and keeping up with the conversation requires reading MORE than just the OP's thoughts.

JMO, and YMMV.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Without knowing the specifics of what's allegedly happening in Detroit, it's entirely possible that the ATF field office there is dealing with a local issue or situation.

Perhaps they've got a new Special Agent in Charge (SAC), who arrived and found that things were lax there, or that the Special Agents assigned to that office were not enforcing federal regulations appropriately.

Perhaps their SAC is bucking for a promotion, and looking to ingratiate himself with his bosses.

Perhaps their regional director has noticed a decrease in regulatory activity or inspections, and is leaning on the SAC.

It could be that an audit of the cases handled by that office revealed improper or inadequate oversight of the FFLs in their Area of Responsibility (AOR), thus leading to stricter enforcement.

There could be a problem with some FFLs in their AOR skirting the law, or failing to abide by the record keeping requirements spelled out in Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), thus provoking what is seen as a "crackdown".

What is almost certainly not happening is the execution of some scheme to disarm us, or destroy the 2nd Amendment. The ATF might have many faults, but they are simply a federal regulatory agency, and enforcing their section of the CFR is their mission.

 

[pawngal]

It could also indicate that law enforcement didn't respond to a store's call for help on a straw buyer!

The #7 store in the nation of guns used in a crime is just outside Columbus, and they call for "Back-up" on felons and straw buyers and get NO RESPONSE!

This store gets frequent visits for records checks. When I've bought guns there they do a triple check to see all the "I"s are dotted and the "T"s are crossed, and still have a few get passed, but they sell One to Three Hundred guns a day on average, Last count I heard was 7 problems for a 90-day period! Not bad at all when you realize how bad the literacy for the customers and employees is!

In some senses of the word "Unfunded Mandate", the GCA of 68 calls for many No-No's buy won't pay for prosecution of the perps. they current ATFExyz has a very big job, and a very closed mind!

Ivan

Why would a gun store call local LE about a suspected straw buyer? You just say "No Sale" and do no background check.

 

[pawngal]

Michigan FFL facts:
Number of dealers: about 3,700
Revocations in 2022: 1
Dealer license surrenders: 3
My educated guess is that very few inspections/audits were done in 2022 and 2023 is a catch up year.

 

[Nomadmax]

Michigan FFL facts:
Number of dealers: about 3,700
Revocations in 2022: 1
Dealer license surrenders: 3
My educated guess is that very few inspections/audits were done in 2022 and 2023 is a catch up year.

Well, that's a lot different than the original "news report". I had a friend who followed one principle when telling something, "Never let facts get in the way of good story"

 

[ladder13]

Reading the thread title, I thought he was talking about the recent rash of gun store breakins.

 

[Skeet 028]

Guys...this is truly nothing new. I had my FFL for 28 years. They came to my shop for an inspection and did so. I had one technical violation...a birth date. Got that squared away and it seemed they were looking for a way to shut not only me but other dealers in the area. We talked to each other frequently. My big problem was not having sent in a letter from the zoning board saying I could run a business? Can't get a business license without approval you know? The letter had been reguired for a month. My renewal had been in 10 months. No contact from BATF about a letter...what this all was is someone wanted to reduce the number of FFLs...Which they did... Clinton era. I kept my license another year and surrendered it when I contracted esophageal cancer. What I am saying is that the powers that be are going to constantly attempt to subvert the 2nd Amendment in any way possible...And with all that...it seems they want to require anyone selling a gun to be a dealer. I know of at least 5 new dealers in my local area. But the largest gun dealer in the US is still exempt....and gave away billions of dollars of war materiel to of all people... enemies of the US. I have been considering getting another Firearms license....but it seems like a lot of work for the profit margins

 

[NFrameFred]

. . . it is important to read ALL of the previous posts (and relevant content) posted in a thread BEFORE posting a comment, since these threads are a "running conversation".

The OP is just the conversation starter. Following the thread and keeping up with the conversation requires reading MORE than just the OP's thoughts.

Or as Led Zep sang, "What is and what should never be!"

The above quote says quite plainly what I (in the solitude of my home when no one is here but the dog to wonder wot-da-hell got into him ?) yell to the wall occasionally. I really strive to follow this advice though, admittedly, it's much easier to accomplish when the thread only runs a page or two. When some of these topics/threads turn into epics and run bunches of pages it's a bit more understandable . . . but I agree, way too many read the original post and can't seem to stop themselves from immediately adding two cents to the conversation while ignoring everyone else in the (figurative) room.

Pertinent and well said advice from BC38. Unfortunately, like lots of such advice, some folks need a nudge with a 2 x 4 sometimes before it starts to sink in . . .


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