Red's Trading Post is currently under fire from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). On March 5th our license to acquire firearms was revoked and is pending appeal in federal court. In the meantime we are still able to continue selling as we always have.
A 2004 audit by the ATF claims to have uncovered several minor clerical errors. Out of nearly10,000 firearms transferred between 1996 and 2004, the alleged error rate found was not even a full percentage point. There were no missing firearms, and no willful illegal acts.
This is not just happening to us though and is becoming a common trend throughout the United States...
Also see the Times-News article.
This link was sent to me by "ChareltonHest," who makes some important observations:
It appears to be the usual purging of gun dealers, but the thing that really bothers me is the "patriot" response to the incident as seen on several forum boards. I think "we" have really lost our way. Everyone jumps on the victim, because today being a "good gun-owner" is taking pride in your ability to jump through all the master's hoops and survive all the "laws". We think we are somehow good because we are "law-abiding"(not necessarily a term to be proud of), while the victim in not. Not realizing that when it is our turn, the enemy will have a way of making us "law-un-abiding".If you really want to grind my gears, let me read some chatroom warrior criticizing a gun owner for getting busted with a complaint along the lines of "He knew better and chose to break the law. He deserves what's coming. He makes us all look bad."
We will wish we came to the aid of such people that came under fire, instead of abandoning them. We do not hang together for this reason, and then we wonder why it gets worse. I think the MSGM (Mainstream Gun Movement) is politically-correct and over-concerned about their image in the face of criticism. We worry about how we will be viewed when targeted by the dishonest accusations of the enemy, and make the mistake of capitulating to their ridiculous arguments, instead of refuting them. We have adopted the NICS, whimpered about how we are "law-abiding" while the enemy uses the color of the law to deprive us of our rights, and turn our backs on people like Ryan(the dealer) because he tripped on the bureaucratic red-tape trip-wires that were put there for the very purpose of driving dealers out of business.
7 comments:
Been battling with the same types on a number of forums. I've been attempting to take the message out into the mainstream.
One thing I've noticed, and it's a little heartening. If you keep it up, and don't back down. Slamming with the factual historical data. Eventually, one by one, the fence-sitters will start coming over. Some even becoming very zealous in turning the others to the truth.
This, I'm convinced, is how we shall win....
I thank you for your comments and support, This is not just the battle for dealers but a battle for all gun owners. I have spoken to countless dealers who are in the same situation. I am encouraging them to speak up! In 2006 the number of FFL revocations was nearly 6 times what the revocations were in 2001. There is a reason that the ATF Reform Act was introduced and passed by Congress but was held up in the Senate by Diane Fienstein. Support your dealer and contact your Senator or Congressman.
Ryan Horsley
Red's Trading Post
Idaho's Oldest Gun Shop
Been there - done that. My company, Survival Enterprises, went through this exact thing three years ago April 23. Feel free to go read about it at http://www.survival-enterprises.com/summary.html
During that time, I was told by ATF agents that they were going to shut down all gun shops in Idaho, one way or another.
The sole reason the ATF exists is to stop ALL domestic civilion firearms sales. PERIOD. They do this by fraud, intimidation, murder, threats, robbery, and in my case, even lying to the Grand Jury.
After getting no help (except by a few honorable men - unfortunatly not enough) I and my family choose to surrender my world famous firearms refinishing business, over $100K in firearms the ATF stole from us, my sons future (I was training him as a gunsmith), our way of life, and my rights as an American. Under duress of threats against my son and wife by the ATF, I choose to bite the bullet. I am now a felon.
Maybe this isn't the kind of letter you want posted on your site, but I know a growing number of American gun-owners who are getting just a little fed up with the ATF and it's intimidating ways. Our Founders and Framers would have demanded revolution long before now!
What have we allowed to happen to our "freedoms" in this nation? For one, our freedoms are not guaranteed by our Constitution. If they were, they wouldn't be worth the paper they're written on. They are guaranteed by God, who has bestowed them on mankind. You know, the God we in this nation have been trying to get rid of! The same folks who want to get rid of Him, are the same ones who want to get rid of our guns...hmmmmmm, imagine that?!
So, what's the answer? Argueing the war on words is getting us nowhere. The government keeps changing hands every other decade or so. We always get the gun-grabbers back in eventually. The Assualt Weapons ban is already being brought up again, thanks to some puke democrat from New York! The republicans are really no longer our friends either, with a lot of socially liberal republicans running for the presidency.
I'm not signing this comment, because I dont' want big brother knocking on my door. They don't need to know who we gun owners are anyway. It's none of their business, and surprise is the best policy anyways. Sorry if I sound like some revolutionary "nutcase", even though I'm a law-abiding armed citizen, who is just one who is gettng fed up with our oppressive beauracracies in our government, which is NOT for the people, of the people, or by the people, anymore.
Anon, browse around the place and you'll find this is EXACTLY the kind of letter I want on this site.
Does any one realize that the BATF is not a part of the government? Check out Title 31 USC for the general breakdown of the Treasury. You will not find the BATF, Secret Service, or the IRS listed as government functions. Whom do they work for and by what athority?
Well, "anon," as I explained to you by private email:
It's no longer part of Treasury since the restructure.
It's now BATFE, it reports into the DoJ, via Title XI of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, on January 17, 2003.
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