[Old Soldier]

HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARS ACCUSATIONS AGAINST ATF . . . The U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security heard testimony Wednesday from a Virginia gun show organizer and others who reported abuses by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) at a Richmond, Va., gun show last August. The Richmond Times-Dispatch (http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137834132638&path=!news&s=1045855934842) reported on the hearing in Thursday’s edition. The complete testimonies of Annette Gelles (http://judiciary.house.gov/OversightTestimony.aspx?ID=546), owner of Showmaster Gun Shows, the show’s organizer; firearms dealer James Lalime (http://judiciary.house.gov/OversightTestimony.aspx?ID=548); and firearms business owner John White (http://judiciary.house.gov/OversightTestimony.aspx?ID=547) are available at the House Committee on the Judiciary’s Web site (http://judiciary.house.gov/Oversight.aspx?ID=214).

[OFallon]

The Gun Gestapo needs to be "reorganized" to deal with illegal product entry into the US. That'll keep them busy... and out of law abiding citizen's hair. :D

[7.62mmFMJ]

At least Congress is good for something.

[Lupey]

Another report by CNSNews:

Congress Told of ATF Seizures, Threats to Gun Buyers
CNSNews.com) - Agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), allegedly acting without warrants or legislative authority to do so, seized firearms from at least 50 gun show patrons in Virginia according to congressional testimony and an agency document made public Wednesday. Witnesses also testified that African-American and female gun buyers in Richmond, Va., and Pittsburgh, Pa., were profiled based on their race or sex and some in Pittsburgh were threatened with arrest by ATF agents for alleged actions that are not violations of law.

Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.) chairs the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, which has jurisdiction over ATF. While he supports the agency's mission, Coble questions some of its tactics.

"ATF reports that 206 [gun show] participants were stopped and interviewed while it confiscated firearms from another 50 participants," Coble said, referring to gun shows in Richmond, Va. "Although most of the firearms were ultimately returned, the purchasers were notified via official letter from ATF that [they] were ordered to appear at the local ATF office to discuss their transactions. In addition, the letter explained that failure to appear could result in an arrest warrant being issued for the alleged charges."

The form letter had blanks for the name of the gun show patron and the date and time they were ordered to appear at the ATF field office, but cited no authority for the gun confiscations or the mandatory office visits.

"An investigation has revealed that you may have violated Title 18 U.S.C. Section 924(a)(1)(A), a crime punishable by imprisonment for up to five years," the letter began. The U.S. Code citation refers, in this instance, to knowingly making a false statement on the ATF Form 4473 "Firearms Transaction Record Part I - Over-The-Counter," which is completed for each firearm purchased from a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL).

the rest of it can be read here (http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewSpecialReports.asp?Page=%5CSpecialReports%5Carchive%5C200602%5CSPE20060217a.html)

[7.62mmFMJ]

What about the PD being dispatched to families and neighbors asking them about YOU buying a gun?

[NT]

Hideous, isn't it? Nothing like seeing Federal and State officials working together, fighting against a common enemy.

This is during a Republican President's second term, no less.

Imagine how they're going to behave during the next Democrat Presidency.

[Jim V]

For an idea, look how they behaved during the last Democrat Presidency.

Can you say Waco? I knew you could.

[BrockthePaine]

...and Ruby Ridge and Elian and...

[AK Nut]

God save us from the ATF...