Hey, if a shoestring can be a machine gun...
Here's some correspondence between the BATFU Firearms Technology Branch and Len Savage. In addition to going through contortions to declare his property a machine gun and then refusing to return it, they've assigned his design submissions to an agent whose testimony Savage challenged.
Here's a recent email:
From: "fire_tech"Savage's reply:
To: Len Savage
Subject: Reference Urgent Request / Phone Calls
Date: Monday, July 07, 2008 5:50:51 PM
Mr. Savage,
FTB’s response to your last written request concerning letter #3311/2008-472 is being reviewed.
FTB has been instructed to hold your property until proper registration has been completed by you with the National Firearms Act Branch.
Please contact NFA at (304) 616-4500.
Mr. Spencer will provide you with FTB’s response once the review process has been completed.
Thanks for contacting FTB!
From: lensavageTo find out what all this has to do with duct tape, plastic ties and chains, follow this link. They are bound and determined to have no standards so they can arbitrarily make them up and "getcha!"
To: fire_tech...
CC: [Suppressed]
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 14:28:24 +0000
Acting Director Sullivan
Chief John Spencer
Asst. Chief Rick Vasquez
Your e-mail of July 7th has been received. I am glad your are reviewing my correspondence outlining a gross error in guidance document #3311/2008-472.
Your e-mail communication also states “FTB has been instructed to hold your property until proper registration has been completed by you with the National Firearms Act Branch.”
This statement has me gravely concerned on two levels. First, FTB is not recognizing the fact that an error may have occurred at FTB. Secondly, FTB is ignoring the fact that this firearm was properly registered with the NFA branch of the ATF.
I must point out that the above statement is clear and reliable proof that you refuse to even consider human error occurs at FTB. There were far more errors in the guidance document #3311/2008-472 than were addressed in my correspondence. I had wrote them off to Firearms Enforcement Officer Max Kingery’s inexperience with firearms. In order to be more specific:
*The firearm was made from sections of a destroyed semiautomatic PKM receiver made by “Wise Lite Arms”, not a machinegun PKM receiver.
*The document claims parts and portions have been removed when in fact this was a ground up construction, nothing was removed at anytime from this firearm, only added by me the manufacturer.
*The document hints at but fails to note that other than the feed device, no other PKM part or component will fit on or in the submitted firearm.
*The document contains photos on pages three and four show clearly that the submitted firearm receiver design is unique from the PKM machinegun receiver, but fail to note that fact in the text.
*Although a photograph of the “Calico Upper”, [classified a non firearm by FTB] was supplied with the submitted firearm, no comparative analysis was ever noted in the document.
Since you are being instructed to hold my property, and fail to explain who is instructing you, I would respectfully ask that you share the following information with those persons “instructing you”:
*Firearms Enforcement Officer Max Kingery was assigned to a position of authority over me five months after testifying against him in US v. Olofson. This appearance of impropriety is clear to anyone, the onus is on FTB at this point.
*There is a prior pattern of FTB actions that is supported by clear and reliable documentation that after or during my participation in the Federal District Court cases that FTB/ATF should consider 18 USC, section 242. “Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States,”
*My submitted firearm was properly registered with the NFA Branch of the ATF. FTB is “holding” my property. I have demanded my property back, under the “color of authority” FTB is refusing to return my property claiming it is “not properly registered”, when if fact you could instruct the NFA branch to put a “hold” on any lawful transfer, and return my property immediately. This would prevent any sales at the moment while the noted errors by FTB are addressed administratively by the acting Director of the BATFE.
*When the FTB guidance document #3311/2008-472 is compared to FTB guidance document #3311/2004-379 there is clear and reliable evidence that FTB did not comply with “Agency Good Guidance Practices” set forth by Office of the President of the United States, and mandated by him in signed executive orders.
*It appears that FTB is not aware of the “2007 Courtroom Security Act”, I was a witness in Federal District Court.
In summary, 1.) The submitted firearm was not made from a machinegun, is not a machinegun, and is my property, that I want returned immediately. 2.) Assignment of Max Kingery after a very heated and public trial less than six months post trial appears improper. 3.) The choice of FTB to install several versions of a “conversion device” in order to induce full auto fire are clear and reliable evidence that they were contrived to deny my constitutional rights as evidenced by the document #3311/2004-379 as well as the other “shoestring letters” by FTB. 4.) FTB is clearly in violation of 18 USC, section 242 as documents by FTB have clearly and reliably proven. 5.) FTB is clearly violating the mandates of the Office of President of the United States Agency Good Guidance Practices as evidenced by FTB documents.
I look forward to your continued communication.
Respectfully,
Len Savage
Every time I see a story like this I wonder why no one files a lawsuit against the ATF for due process violations. Due Process would require that the agency follow the same rules and regulations when testing a firearm, and since there are no written regulations, how can Due Process be protected?
ReplyDeleteWait, nevermind, I see my error. I'm expecting ATF to obey something that's written down. My bad.
Uh-oh. I have plastic ties and duct tape, and a semi-auto rifle. There may be an old chain somewhere in the yard or the basement.
ReplyDeleteLessee here: "The right to keep and bear arms."
Mr. Savage's shop project is an ARM.
All it takes to start a war is for one side to act. Guess what, they've acted, repeatedly at that.
ReplyDeleteArbitrary and capricious enforcement of not only the existing laws but the interpretation of those laws by a rogue agency that then ignores those laws that should be in force to keep them in check.
War's started gang. You gonna step into the boxcar like good Juden or perhaps find a way to protest and resist like those troublemakers in Warsaw?
Anon sez: "War's started gang. You gonna step into the boxcar like good Juden or perhaps find a way to protest and resist like those troublemakers in Warsaw?"
ReplyDeleteSez I: Workin' on it.
I'm sure they would say Mr. Savage is fortunate that only his PROPERTY is being held.
ReplyDeleteThe assignment of Agent Kingery to this matter after Savage testified against him in the Olofson travesty is like dropping someone critical of the police into custody of those same police. We see similar retribution by school principals against student newspapers, for gosh sakes. Aren't we all adults?
Apparently some of us aren't.
They will be undeserving of sympathy when the unpleasantness starts for real.
"Duct Tape, Plastic Ties and Chains..."
ReplyDeleteAhh, reminds me of my honeymoon.
The vows do say "To have and to HOLD..."
ReplyDelete"Thanks for contacting FTB!"
At least the administrative assistants are pleasant. "Your fully-paid-for home is going to be seized to recover unpaid taxes. Thanks for contacting the IRS! Have a nice day! :)"
If I told people about this they would never believe it and want to see a link. You can't make this stuff up.
ReplyDeleteJPFO has issued an alert on this.
ReplyDeleteGood thing gun control is a "non-issue" in the presidential election, huh? Why, the other side tells us that except for the Supreme Court ruling, there hasn't been a discussion of gun control since the so-called AW ban was allowed to sunset. It's just PARANOID to keep anticipating government moves against gun possession!
[SUPREME sarcasm]
Stuff like this just boils the blood.
ReplyDeleteShermlock Shomes said...
ReplyDelete"'Duct Tape, Plastic Ties and Chains...' Ahh, reminds me of my honeymoon."
No, you're thinking of my divorce from the Wicked Witch of the North.
Bullies need to be beaten down, like the unloved bastards they appear to be.
ReplyDeleteThey can take their evil ways to a more suitable political climate, like China.
I operate under the strategy and tactic that if my opponent has no standards of conduct, I will adopt his tactics with no compunction whatsoever. I can operate in a venue with no standards, but I'll tell you now, I can be a real bastard when there are no rules.
ReplyDeleteAre these sonsofbitches so fucking stupid as to believe they are the only ones who can play that way?
What bothers me most is that if this were to be posted on most "gun" forums (maybe it already has ... I'm resisting the temptation to look), there would be no shortage of apologists for the ATF. No matter how strong the evidence ... "[Insert Name of Gun Owner/Dealer] must have been doing something shady. Otherwise, why would the Government press charges and/or take the position they have? [Insert Name of Gun Owner/Dealer] must not be giving us the whole story."
ReplyDeleteYou expect the Government agencies to do what they do. When your own side stabs you in the back ... well, it's a different thing altogether.
On a similar thought, non-support of our side isn't too far removed from outright support of the other side. Fighting for our rights isn't a spectator sport (hint, hint ... Illinois residents).
But then again, he's an "Only One," so naturally his position is that a LEO's affadavit outweighs a mere citizen's--or even several mere citizens.
ReplyDeleteAh--hadn't known about his elevated "Only One" status. That explains much.
David, that is why I can honestly say I didn't peek.
ReplyDeleteMy haunting of those forums will be increasingly limited to seeking out technical information.
By far this is the best story I've heard all month. Probably will be in the top 5 of all year.
ReplyDeleteKudos to Mr. Savage and any other patriots who will stand up and fight!
The Spirit of 1776 is alive and well!
How can it fit the NFA definition of a machinegun when it has no trigger? Or is the definition of "trigger" as subjective as "machinegun"?
ReplyDeleteThe ATF: "The Longer We Go, The Circular We Get"
Sez I: Workin' on it.
ReplyDeleteSez me: I too is!
Hmmmm... If I understand ATF's unwritten definition of a machine gun, I can sprinkle a little gasoline on a box of 22's, put one end of a fuze into the box and tape a Bic lighter to the other end of the fuze, and I have a machine gun... Fires multiple rounds with a single flick of the Bic... Quite inaccurate, though. Probably needs some refinement....
ReplyDeleteYou Americans just can't seem to figure it out. The only thing that is going to fix things is an armed uprising complete with public hangings of public officials. Until you are ready to face this fact...quit bitching. I am so sorry that so many of you do not understand what the word "totalitarian" means.
ReplyDeleteGet used to being imprisoned and abused...you are Americans and you make the best slaves money can buy.