G.O.A.
Time To Rein In The BATFE
-- Please ask George Bush to take the agency to the woodshed
Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org
Thursday, February 22, 2007
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has
been on a tear under the administration of Attorney General Alberto
Gonzalez.
Manufacturers of various products have been told in writing that
their products are not a firearm and that they can be marketed
outside the federal paperwork system for selling firearms. Then,
months or years later, BATFE sends another letter reversing the first
determination.
The Congressional Research Service found in 2005 (ATF Firearms
Procedures) that BATFE has no written procedures for determining what
is a firearm. The "process" is arbitrary, and the string of
reversals in recent months shows how capricious a BATFE determination
is.
Historic Arms received a letter of determination in 1995 that its
BM-3000 was not a firearm. Indeed, Historic Arms had designed the
product as an accessory for a machine gun to fire different kinds of
ammunition than the gun had originally been designed to fire. For 11
years, the company manufactured their product without incident. But
in 1996, Historic Arms received a second letter determining that the
product was actually a machine gun!
As in other cases, BATFE wanted all the company's products sent to
Washington along with all the names of the customers who had
purchased the item.
In 2004, the BATFE determined that the Akins Accelerator was a "non
firearm" accessory that allowed a shooter to bump fire a semi-auto
and considerably increase the rate of fire. This year, BATFE has
determined that the trigger finger which is bumping the trigger is
itself a machine gun! Again, send in all the product and customer
names.
For years, Centerfire Systems had a parts kit that it sold for
machine guns. Now, six years later, BATFE has reversed itself on
this company. And, the Bureau has put Centerfire Systems through the
same drill -- send in their products and their customer lists.
In a related matter involving the definition of what makes a gun a
"gun," KT Ordnance was raided by BATFE last year and its products
were confiscated. What were the dangerous items? A parts kit for
customers to legally make their own (unregistered) firearm. Again,
BATFE wanted the customer list.
The capricious activities by the BATFE wreck economic chaos on these
companies, in addition to violating both theirs and their customers'
rights protected by the Second Amendment.
It is time for the BATFE to put their procedures for determining what
is a firearm, and what is a machine gun, in writing.
This latest bait and switch is but another backdoor effort on the
part of the federal government to attack gun ownership. This time
the attack is on manufacturers.
ACTION: Please contact Pres. Bush. If we do not restrain BATFE now,
they will do immeasurable damage to the firearms industry in the
United States.
You can visit the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at
http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send the President the
pre-written message below. You can also contact the President via
telephone:
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
-- Please ask George Bush to take the agency to the woodshed
Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org
Thursday, February 22, 2007
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has
been on a tear under the administration of Attorney General Alberto
Gonzalez.
Manufacturers of various products have been told in writing that
their products are not a firearm and that they can be marketed
outside the federal paperwork system for selling firearms. Then,
months or years later, BATFE sends another letter reversing the first
determination.
The Congressional Research Service found in 2005 (ATF Firearms
Procedures) that BATFE has no written procedures for determining what
is a firearm. The "process" is arbitrary, and the string of
reversals in recent months shows how capricious a BATFE determination
is.
Historic Arms received a letter of determination in 1995 that its
BM-3000 was not a firearm. Indeed, Historic Arms had designed the
product as an accessory for a machine gun to fire different kinds of
ammunition than the gun had originally been designed to fire. For 11
years, the company manufactured their product without incident. But
in 1996, Historic Arms received a second letter determining that the
product was actually a machine gun!
As in other cases, BATFE wanted all the company's products sent to
Washington along with all the names of the customers who had
purchased the item.
In 2004, the BATFE determined that the Akins Accelerator was a "non
firearm" accessory that allowed a shooter to bump fire a semi-auto
and considerably increase the rate of fire. This year, BATFE has
determined that the trigger finger which is bumping the trigger is
itself a machine gun! Again, send in all the product and customer
names.
For years, Centerfire Systems had a parts kit that it sold for
machine guns. Now, six years later, BATFE has reversed itself on
this company. And, the Bureau has put Centerfire Systems through the
same drill -- send in their products and their customer lists.
In a related matter involving the definition of what makes a gun a
"gun," KT Ordnance was raided by BATFE last year and its products
were confiscated. What were the dangerous items? A parts kit for
customers to legally make their own (unregistered) firearm. Again,
BATFE wanted the customer list.
The capricious activities by the BATFE wreck economic chaos on these
companies, in addition to violating both theirs and their customers'
rights protected by the Second Amendment.
It is time for the BATFE to put their procedures for determining what
is a firearm, and what is a machine gun, in writing.
This latest bait and switch is but another backdoor effort on the
part of the federal government to attack gun ownership. This time
the attack is on manufacturers.
ACTION: Please contact Pres. Bush. If we do not restrain BATFE now,
they will do immeasurable damage to the firearms industry in the
United States.
You can visit the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at
http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send the President the
pre-written message below. You can also contact the President via
telephone:
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
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Thanks for posting this alledan.
The BATF has run roughshod over our rights for WAY TOO LONG.
One day, what you own, is perfectly legal. (and HAS been for YEARS)
The next day, you're a felon for owning it. (streetsweeper shotguns, is another example)
The BATF once made a determination that a SHOE STRING would be classified as a machine gun. You heard right, a shoe string. Should we send them the customer list for that one???
They need to be reined in, or abolished altogether.0 -
Why does anyone think that El Presidente is going to do anything about this? He won't even lift a finger to stop the invasion from the south or help two border patrol agents that are doing hard time for shooting a drug smuggler. 0 -
Its not just guns that ATF is out of control with. The restrictions they have put in place on the explosive industry has cost alot of extra money for registration fees. most that do nothing to enhance public safety. As new upper managment come into control they will change there view or interpetation of an old rule. They even regulate hobbyist rocketeers; reguireing magazine storage and background checks to own a rocket motor over 62 grams (thats small). Most that work for atf are young and no realworld sense. just young minds of mush tobe molded. 0
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