Red's Under Fire: From More than the Feds

Once many gun dealers backed the National Association of Stocking Gun Dealers, whose efforts helped put so-called "kitchen-table gun dealers" out of business. The immediate effect was to loosen competition.

But it also loosened the schedules of thousands of overburdened agents at the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Gee, selling rope to hang the competition? Finding out an organization you depended on had an agenda of its own to take care of its preferred backers? Who ever heard of that?

Mountain Man Custom Jewelry Gun and Pawn Inc...allowed its license to lapse in January. Soon, there was an agent knocking at the business' door for the first time in more than 20 years. A three-day audit earned its owner, Gary Painter, his first warning.

Mr. Painter, it seems like only a week-and-a-half ago, you were deflecting attention to Red's Trading Post. But that's OK--it looks like Christy Newlan of Main Street Pawn and Collectibles has taken over the finger-pointing.

Christy and Joe Waldron of CCRKBA, it would seem:

"There are people that would argue the ATF is using this to intimidate gun dealers," Waldron said in a telephone interview. "If the ATF goes after a dealer, I am going to assume those gun dealers are doing something they shouldn't be."

Why, Mr. Waldron? Why would you automatically assume BATFU does not have such an agenda, and side with them over dealers, particularly at a time when Red's is fighting for its life?

If it's your and CCRKBA's position that ATF activities are constitutional, I'd appreciate hearing you out. If it's your and CCRKBA's position that citizens found in violation of state and federal gun edicts are presupposed guilty, and the enforcement agencies presupposed acting legitimately, please flesh out your thesis.

Should we assume you meant every word, or that you were misquoted and your statement was taken out of context?