In the NICS of Time?

Never been delayed before and I just got delayed until April 15th is this because of covid 19 or something else [More]

I speculated on that possibility:

We see that the Trump administration in general and the Department of Justice in particular “reportedly has been preparing a plan that would let hundreds of thousands of federal employees work remotely.” It’s legitimate to ask if that will affect the folks responsible for NICS approvals and if the three business day approval rule would still apply if it does.

But this is the first I've seen of anyone claiming it's happening.

At this point, I have no idea if there is really anything to this that affects all NICS transfers nationwide, if it's localized, or if it's even happening.  I suppose we could ask:

[More]

I'll update this if I hear anything back.  If you hear anything, please educate us in "comments."

UPDATE from Harrison Shooter Supply:

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY ATF/FBI NICS background check if you get delayed on a purchase it is now a 3 WEEK DELAY!!!!!! This is not us it is a new mandate from NICS edited to add "or the state of Kansas" not sure who.

[Via evverest]

UPDATE from Gateway Pundit:

“'As the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Section works through the impact of the COVID-19 operationally, we are working to maintain our services. We are aware that states may be considering options to protect the health and safety of their employees, which may include a reduction in office availability or even closure to some offices,' the FBI office said in a statement."

[Via Andy M]

TANGENTIALLY RELATED UPDATE from Buckeye Firearms Association:

Coronavirus: Some Ohio Sheriffs suspending Concealed Handgun License applications and renewals

Will they suspend arresting us for noncompliance?

And in Illinois...

Not only is the ISP overwhelmed, so is the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

[Via Jeffersonian]

UPDATE from Appalachian Armory:

We have been notified by ATF/FBI that any background check that comes back delayed is no longer a 3 day wait but instead will be a possible 28 day wait. If you have a handgun license or are immediately approved then this will not apply. Here is what they sent out:

NICS Experiences Unprecedented Volume IncreaseFFLs Must Consider Closures, Reduced Staff Effects on Three Business Day DelaysAs our nation continues to navigate its response to the COVID-19, we recognize the firearm industry, like many other industries, is being impacted. NSSF® is aware of delays within the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check (NICS) System. We want you to know the FBI is on the job and working diligently to address the dramatic response and increase in background checks experienced over the past few days. Just yesterday, Monday, March 16, 2020, the NICS staff experienced over a 300% increase compared to this same time period in 2019. As we’ve seen in the past with other national events, our citizens often seek to exercise their Second Amendment rights during times of uncertainty. Therefore transparent communication remains a top priority.
According to NICS, there are delays in the system due to an astronomical volume of transactions over the last several days. While much of the NICS System is automated and yields an immediate “proceed” or “deny” determination, transactions that result in a delayed status require the work of NICS examiners to investigate whether the transaction should be approved or not. With daily volumes roughly double that of last year, the NICS team is unable to begin investigations on all delays within three business days, creating a backlog in the delayed checks.
Some states offices and agencies are considering options to protect the health and safety of their employees, which may include a reduction in staff or a temporary closure. If you operate in one of these areas and if you receive a delayed response from the NICS, please note the Brady transfer date provided to you by the FBI could be extended beyond the normal three business days. The three business day timeframe does not begin until relevant state offices are open for business. Additionally, because of the dramatic increase in volume, it is important to recognize FBI staff may not be able to begin their research on delayed transactions as they normally would. Therefore, you may want to consider waiting on a definitive response from the NICS before opting to proceed with a sale on any delayed transaction. We are operating during exceptional and uncertain times, so you may wish to consider implementing temporary changes in order to safeguard yourself and your business. However, please note that when state offices are closed it does not constitute a “business day” for purposes of calculating the “three business days” period before an FFL may transfer a firearm to a non-licensee as mandated by the Brady Act.
The NICS Section is working overtime to get through the backlog and we appreciate their hard work and open communication. NSSF will continue to communicate with NICS and our members to ensure operations move forward as smoothly as possible during this period.

[Via Ed Stone]

The War on the Bill of Rights

From JPFO:

The FBI is investigating library checkout records in its "War on Terror."

A librarian said "no."

"The Library had consulted their lawyer and done their homework, so they told the FBI that it would have to follow the proper procedures. About a week later, the FBI served a subpoena upon the Library, demanding a list of everyone who had borrowed that book since November 2001...

"After the Library's legal challenge, the FBI withdrew its request. Ms. Airoldi learned, however, that under the Patriot Act, the FBI could go to a secret court to obtain a court order to obtain the borrowing records."

That apparently is not good enough.

From The Washington Post:

"The FBI on Tuesday asked the U.S. Congress for sweeping new powers to seize business or private records, ranging from medical information to book purchases, to investigate terrorism without first securing approval from a judge...

"The proposed new powers, long sought by the FBI, have been added by Republican lawmakers, acting on the wishes of the Bush administration, to the new draft of the USA Patriot Act."

How does the propaganda slogan go, "If you're not with us, you're against us"?

Squarely against over here, guys.

Oh, but wait, here's their rationale:

"Committee chairman, Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, noted that other government agencies already had subpoena power to investigate matters such as child pornography, drug investigations and medical malpractice. He said it made little sense to deny those same powers to the FBI to investigate terrorism or keep track of foreign intelligence agents."

No doubt the same treasonous black robes who rule the Second Amendment is a collective state power have abetted the destruction of the Fourth Amendment as well.

That doesn't make it right. That doesn't make it Constitutional.

Mr. Franklin warned us about trading liberty for security.

We're the Only Ones Non-Alcoholic Enough...

The results of a Washington, D.C.-based FBI probe came down Friday, clearing agents of any wrongdoing in the controversial Nov. 7 slugfest between two Bears players at the shooting range. Sources said alcohol had been served after the shooting practice.

The probe found no evidence that alcohol was mixed with guns. But FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Grant announced he will still ban the use of alcohol by any future group using the FBI's North Chicago shooting facility.

"He was not suggesting any impropriety ... he just wants to make sure an incident like this will not happen again," FBI spokesman Ross Rice said.

Translation: After investigating ourselves, we didn't do anything wrong. And we're banning alcohol at the range even though we didn't do anything wrong, as a way of making sure that we don't not do anything wrong again, even though we didn't the first time. Do anything wrong, that is.

Got it?

Boy, am I glad their internal investigation proves they didn't do anything wrong. I guess I was kind of judgmental when I posted on this before, huh?

So kudos to the FBI for figuring out that guns and booze don't mix. Perhaps their example of innovative government safety leadership will spill over into the private sector some day...

Tags: gun, FBI, Chicago Bears

"The Color of Gun Control"?

Did the FBI, in the early 60's, create a coloring book they wanted people to think came from the Black Panther Party*, and was this part of a wider plan to scare whites into enacting gun control laws?

I received the following as a comment to a previous post. I'd seen correspondent "Madashell" talk about the coloring book in KABA Newslinks comments and asked him to give me more information.

Anonymous said...

Dear David Codrea;

Sir I believe you want info about the BPP coloring book created by the FBI. I decided to share this info with everyone.
Madashell

1) For a copy of the BPP coloring book
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/COINTELPRO/coloring.html
2) For US Senate report on coloring book
bookhttp://www.icdc.com/~paulwolf/cointelpro/churchfinalreportIIIc.htm
3) For additional links including to the Senate report and more
http://www.perspectives.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=90600&forum_id=94&jump_to=3222755
4) Latest from Jeff Knox tying it all together
http://www.firearmscoalition.org/new/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=37

I present this for discussion only. Not having the time to track this down, my gut instinct says verify before accepting, and I do note the Knox piece addresses generalities of how the FOID was passed in fear of black armed rebellion, and does not mention this coloring book. On the other hand, though I had not heard of Paul Wolf before, he appears to have good legal credentials, and has done extensive research, but I have only given his pages a cursory glance and have no insights into what he is about.

I did find the coloring book on a University of Notre Dame page, but it doesn't mention an FBI disinformation program. You can find other websites here.

So caveat emptor. One would think this would have been a major news story--was it and did I sleep through it? If it's true and it hasn't been, "why not?" might be an appropriate question to start asking.

If anyone can help shed light, please do so.

And thank you, Madashell, for bringing this to my attention.

*UPDATE: It's not clear from the "Senate Report" linked above whether the FBI is alleged to have created the book or simply distributed it--the inference could be made they took an existing independently-produced book that was not authorized by the BPP hierarchy and sent it out to scare people, and that BPP leadership disassociated themselves from it when it came to their attention. Of course, the BPP could also have created it and lied when it became an embarrasment to them. Who knows?

From the report:

In an admitted attempt "to impede their contributions to the BPP Breakfast Program," the FBI sent anonymous letters and copies of an inflammatory Black Panther Coloring Book for children to contributors, including Safeway Stores, Inc., Mayfair Markets, and the Jack-In-The-Box Corporation.

On April 8, 1976 in Executive Testimony a former member of the BPP Central Steering Committee stated that when the coloring book came to the attention of the Panther's national leadership, Bobby Seale ordered it destroyed because the book "did not correctly reflect the ideology of the Black Panther Party . . ."

FBI Vanderboegh Files

Mike Vanderboegh by Federal Bureau of Investigation - Usage Public Domain Mark 1.0 - Topics FBI, FBI file, Federal Bureau of Investigation, militia movement - Collection nsia-fbi-files; nationalsecurityarchive; additional_collections [More]

These pertain to Mike's earlier groundbreaking and (pretty much) unrecognized work on Oklahoma City...

I wish I had the background to add some salient perspective on this. The best I can offer is to suggest picking some keywords and following up on the hits you get on Sipsey Street.

The guy really was a remarkable man.  What a shame he died as he did, in such financial straits and with so many attacking him.

History is written by the victors. I'm working toward a history that will honor Mike Vanderboegh and remember his enemies as they deserve.

[Via Ken B]

UPDATE: It appears this was an attempt by SPLC operative Nick Martin to see what the FBI had on Mike, and he's disappointed  in there being "no there there."

Ah well, since when have mere facts held back a good leftist smear job? It's funny though, that after Mike's been gone all this time he's still living in their heads rent free.

We're the Only Ones Penetrating Enough

 The OIG substantiated allegations against six FBI officials as follows. The OIG investigation found that four FBI officials solicited, procured, and accepted commercial sex overseas, and that a fifth FBI official solicited commercial sex overseas, in violation of DOJ and FBI policies. The OIG investigation also found that four of those officials lacked candor about their interactions with prostitutes and other misconduct during OIG compelled interviews and compelled polygraph examinations, in violation of FBI policies, and that one of those officials made false statements in an OIG compelled interview and compelled polygraph examination in violation of federal law, when the official denied having engaged in sex acts with a prostitute. [More]

They've been screwing American citizens for so long, why should a few foreign whores bother anybody?

Hey, what are the "prohibited person" consequences for lying to federal enforcers again...?

[Via Jess]

Shipley Hearing Today

On record reconstruction... [Read]

Why would they have to do that?

Oh.

Copies of the defense attorney's objection to producing what should be privileged work papers/documents and an update memo from DOJ on the US Attorney assigned to the case are also posted.

If you're unfamiliar with the Shipley case, check these out:

• Is FBI agent Mexican 'crime gun' source?
• Is FBI agent in Mexican gun case being persecuted?
• Is FBI agent charged with illegal gun dealing just a collector?
• Jury finds FBI's Shipley guilty on gun charges
• Family of FBI agent convicted on gun charges: 'Battle lost, war still on'

I wish I had time to do more on this right now, but there's only one of me and the plate is full. Ain't it curious how, when their own tribe turns against them, the only ones insisting on justice for all are ornery "anti-government extremists"?

You who are still part of a machine that hasn't turned on you (yet) might want to keep that in mind.

Nevada AG Will Not Enforce New Law after FBI Declines Question 1 Background Checks

“[T]he recent passage of the Nevada legislation regarding background checks for private sales cannot dictate how federal resources are applied,” Kimberly Del Greco of the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division informed the Nevada Department of Public Safety in a Dec. 14 letter, meaning the FBI would not allow intermediaries to run background checks as required by the Act. Based on a resulting department clarification request to Laxalt on how to proceed, the attorney general concluded “citizens may not be prosecuted for their inability to comply with the Act unless and until the FBI changes its public position and agrees to conduct the background checks consistent with the Act.” [More]

The best laid schemes o' mice an' Michael Bloomberg, that is, o' rats...

Investigation into Alleged FBI Finicum Shooting Evidence Tampering Faces Credibility Hurdles

If confirmed, such evidence tampering at a crime scene would not just be a career-ender for those involved, it would be a crime that merits prison time. And while “Former FBI agents and criminal justice experts have said they’re baffled why elite FBI agents might hide the shots,” the incentive to engage in cover-up does not appear all that puzzling of a riddle. [More]

What possible reasons could there be for the FBI to remove casings from the scene of LaVoy Finicum’s shooting? Will we ever find out?

We're the Only Ones Appealing Enough

In July 2007, US District Judge Nancy Gertner found that the FBI was responsible for framing Salvati, Peter J. Limone, Louis Greco, and Henry Tameleo for the murder of Edward "Teddy" Deegan, a small-time criminal, and ordered the government to pay them a total of $101.7 million for the decades they had spent in prison.

She concluded that the FBI deliberately withheld evidence of the four men's innocence and helped hide the injustice for decades as the men aged behind bars. Tameleo and Greco died in prison.[More]

So naturally, the "government lawyer argue[d] that the FBI was not to blame."

Yesterday, Justice Department lawyer Joshua Waldman urged the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to overturn Gertner's ruling, arguing the FBI could not be held liable for the malicious prosecution of the four men because they were prosecuted in state court by state authorities.

Is there anything more appealing than federal "Only Ones"?

[Via Ed M]

Complete, Unedited Video of Joint FBI and OSP Operation 01/26/2016

Published on Jan 28, 2016This is the complete video footage of a joint FBI and Oregon State Police traffic stop and OSP officer-involved shooting of Robert "LaVoy" Finicum on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. This footage, which has only been edited to blur out aircraft information, was taken by the FBI on 01/26/2016 and released by the FBI on 01/28/2016. Note regarding date/time stamp in the left corner of video: Pilots use Zulu Time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), when they fly. Zulu time is eight hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (PST). Therefore, although this footage was taken on January 26, 2016 in Oregon, the date/time stamp on the video shows just after midnight January 27, 2016.

Shooting incident starts @ 9:15 in...

The Execution of LaVoy Finicum

An FBI agent is suspected of lying about firing twice at Robert "LaVoy" Finicum and may have gotten help from four other FBI agents in covering up afterward... [More]

Government not only failed in its duty to resolve matters without bloodshed, it contributed to the conditions making it all but inevitable when their demand for obedience was forced upon a man who would not kneel. They knew this man of unbending principle had never initiated violence and would only react if forced. They set things up so that would be the outcome.

He told them at the first roadblock he was going to go to turn himself in to Sheriff Palmer. Given the circumstances, he could have been escorted securely to do just that, to resolve things peaceably. The enforcers had waited all that time -- they could have called Palmer, assured Finicum he was on his way and no action would be taken, and waited another couple hours.

Lying FBI agents shooting into the truck with no identified threat target as Finicum was trying to exit with his hands up not only violates rules of engagement, it criminally endangered the occupants. As an aside, considering all the years its been in existence and all the money that's been poured into it, how many hostages has the Hostage Rescue Team actually rescued?

Finicum was shot in the back. As for the "justification" that he was going for his gun, not only would self-defense have been warranted, all we really have to go on to accept that, without better video and sound from on-scene recorders, is the word of people who were part of a kill team that is now being investigated for withholding critical information.

This whole thing did not have to happen. Finicum DID initially emerge with his hands up. Government actions prevented that scenario from unfolding. And now they're making noises about how justified they all were.

Another thing that's instructive about all this is in comments under another article about not releasing the names of the police shooters just yet. The hatred, the reveling and joy in the death of a man they revile, and the outright bigotry against Finicum's religion are all evident in those who think agents of the monopoly of violence ought to be able to kill with anonymity. If someone made similar slurs against Islam, these same Prozis would be screaming "Bigot!" and worse. And funny, how they'd take a polar opposite position had a person of a different set of circumstances been killed in a different place, like, say, Ferguson.

I said "Prozis," a term I use to combine "progressive" with Nazi, which is what they really are, as much as they try to project and pin that label onto advocates of Constitutionally-limited government. It's not just an example of Godwin's Law when they really do hate, and really do want the state to crush anyone who's not part of their cult.

As for what happens next, I won't be surprised to see push-back as more and more people have personal lines in the sand forcibly crossed. I don't see that as having a calming effect -- quite the opposite. I won't be surprised if some totally unforeseen wild card decides "it's time."

Whether the Rubicon has been finally crossed or not, and whether more are going to be dragged into this, is yet unknown. I guess we'll all find out.

Taking a Flyer in Arkansas

A flyer appearing to be from the FBI has been turning up at local gun and ammo shops, instructing employees there how to identify suspected terrorists, but some store owners say its regulations might affect more than just enemies of the state. [More]

I've been trying to get a copy of the actual document. I asked Paul W. Davis who is from Ark. if he could locate one and this is his reply:

I talked to two gunshop owners today. One is a mom and pop that sells guns along with hardware, the other a large gunshop that deals with every firearm imaginable. The mom and pop owner saw the report, but no one ever delivered any kind of flyer to him, nor did he receive one in the mail. The owner of the large gunshop was out of town when the flyer was delivered, but was informed about it. They tried to call the number on the flyer, and the number was never answered. Before 40/29 did their report they tried to get him to talk to them, but he refused because he doesn't trust them. Nonetheless, he had it confirmed to him that they (40/29) tried to reach the number and it was not answered for them either. He does know the FBI was contacted at their normally published number and they claimed no knowledge of the flyer. The flyer his shop received, they destroyed when it didn't appear to be official. His take is that someone was trying to create a stir. At this point, a couple of things are apparent: If it was a government operation, it was a black op to determine reaction and nothing more. If it was not a government operation, the individual(s) responsible are attempting to stir the pot for reasons known to them. In any case, it is not "official" policy. Although, from what the gun store owner described as being on the flyer, he considered the points raised to be all the things they normally evaluate when someone is purchasing a firearm anyway. At this late in the game, it is highly doubtful I could get my hands on a copy of the flyer. I do not know too many other people who might be able to get one either. I will say this, if it were an official op from the government, they know every FFL in the entire area, and the mom and pop guy would have gotten one too. Whoever did this wasn't aware of all the different FFL's (we have dozens) in the area, or decided to hit only those shops which were high visibility and possibility only in a certain geographical area. Sorry I could not hit more shops, but that would require more time than I had available due to other commitments. I hope this sheds some additional light on the situation.

If anyone can shed some additional additional light, please do. In the mean time, I left a voicemail and sent this to the FBI public affairs officer in Little Rock:

A Difference of Opinion

Per Rand Paul:

Amendment 363 clarifies that the authority to obtain info under the USA PATRIOT Act does not include authority to obtain certain firearm records.

Per Chris Cox via NRA-ILA email:

Thank you for asking about the National Rifle Association's position on a motion to table amendment # 363 to the PATRIOT Act.

The NRA takes a back seat to no one when it comes to protecting gun owners' rights against government abuse. Over the past three decades, we've fought successfully to block unnecessary and intrusive compilation of firearms-related records by several federal agencies, and will continue to protect the privacy of our members and all American gun owners.

While well-intentioned, the language of this amendment as currently drafted raises potential problems for gun owners, in that it encourages the government to use provisions in current law that allow access to firearms records without reasonable cause, warrant, or judicial oversight of any kind.

Based on these concerns and the fact that the NRA does not ordinarily take positions on procedural votes, we have no position on a motion to table amendment # 363.

UPDATE:

Just received this further explanation from NRA-ILA:

As often happens with complex issues, NRA's position on Sen. Rand Paul's defeated PATRIOT Act amendment is being mis-reported by those who either don't understand the facts, or prefer their own version of "facts."


This amendment was rejected by 85 Senators, which included many of the strongest Second Amendment supporters in the U.S. Senate. Unfortunately, Senator Paul chose not to approach us on this issue before moving ahead. His amendment, which only received 10 votes, was poorly drafted and could have resulted in more problems for gun owners than it attempted to fix. For this reason, the NRA did not take a position on the amendment.


To be more specific about the amendment and its problems, the amendment would have prohibited use of PATRIOT Act legal authority for any "investigation or procurement of firearms records which is not authorized under [the Gun Control Act]." There have been no reports of the current PATRIOT Act being abused with respect to firearms records, however supporters suggested a far-fetched scenario in which every firearms sales record in the country--tens or hundreds of millions of documents dating back to 1968--could be sought. Again, we nor anyone else is aware of any case in which this authority has been used to abuse gun owners. (In fact, published reports indicate that few of these orders are ever sought for any reason.)


In particular, the amendment appeared to be aimed at so-called "section 215 letters"--orders from the FBI requiring the disclosure of "tangible things" such as records and documents.


Under the current PATRIOT Act, an application for this type of order with respect to firearms sales records has to be approved no lower than the director or deputy director of the FBI, or the Executive Assistant Director for National Security. The application is made to a federal judge based on "a statement of facts showing that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the tangible things sought are relevant to an authorized investigation ... to obtain foreign intelligence information not concerning a United States person or to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities." The judge has the power to modify the order and must direct the use of "minimization procedures" to protect the privacy of Americans.


If the Paul amendment were adopted, the FBI would have used other ways to access whatever firearms records it might need for intelligence or anti-terrorism investigations. This is especially troublesome for gun owners.


This would result in United States Attorneys simply demanding the same records through grand jury subpoenas, which require no judicial approval before issuance. Fighting a subpoena after the fact can be very costly and carries legal risks of its own, including possible charges for obstruction of justice.


Even worse, the government would have used the Gun Control Act's provision that allows the Attorney General to "inspect or examine the inventory and records of [a licensee] without ... reasonable cause or warrant" during a criminal investigation. That means by simply characterizing its activities as a "criminal investigation," it would enter a licensee's premises and demand these records without "reasonable cause or warrant"--in other words, without judicial oversight of any kind, and without any of the procedural limits imposed by the PATRIOT Act.


Therefore, given all of these potential problems for gun owners, the NRA could not support this poorly drafted amendment.

Casa de la Muerte

The assertion that Comey played a role in the House of Death cover-up, in light of his pending nomination to be the top dog at the FBI, should be a big deal, given one of the FBI’s jobs is to handle informants during criminal investigations, and to also deal with the intricacies and sensitivities of law enforcement operations carried out on foreign soil ... However, the allegation that he did play some role in the cover-up is not based on a flimsy six-degrees-of-separation conspiracy theory. There is a long paper trail illuminating the facts ... again, ignored to this day by a commercial media now fawning over the impending nomination of Comey as the next FBI director. [More]

He ought to fit right in.

[Via Mr. X]

Selective Enforcement

The FBI said Thursday it would open a civil rights inquiry into officers' conduct.

The preliminary inquiry seeks to determine "whether the civil rights of protesters taking part in the May 1st immigration rally were violated," according to an FBI news release.

So where is the FBI investigation on whether the unalienable Constitutional rights of gun owners are being violated--on a daily basis--in California and throughout the Republic?

Black Helicopters

Florida Guy sends raw findings by email about a helicopter being deployed in Nevada under a "trespass cattle" category the Review Journal:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/sites/default/files/field/media/web1_tresspasscattle_040514JL_01_5.jpg

http://www.reviewjournal.com/sites/default/files/field/media/web1_tresspasscattle_040514JL_02_4.jpg

( Registration N number partially visible behind open crew door. In second image.)

 Full Bell Tech Data on the Helicopter -

http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en_US/Commercial/Bell407/1291148332291.html

FAA Registration:

Bell 407 - N515JW

Owner / Operator

Aerographics

Aerographics Inc

10678 Aviation Lane

Manassas

VA 20110-2700

Phone: (703) 330-4771

Category: Nonscheduled Charter Services

10678 Aviation Lane is the FBI Manassas airport address.

http://start.cortera.com/company/research/k2l1kwq4k/fbi/

This FBI helicopter gets around.

Take a look for yourself.  In Boise, ID

http://www.myaviation.net/search/search.php?view=&regnr=N515JW

Flying in formation over the Columbine High School in 2008.....

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000177756.html

.....With a Black, Bell 412 - Registration N83700 based at

the same Manassas, VA  airport.

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000177758.htm

And then on my own I found this:

And curiously, Aerographics just happens to be registered with Delaware...

So: Can we draw any conclusions from this?

FBI Alert?

COLORADO, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, WYOMING (U//FOUO) FBI Alert: Middle-Eastern Males Approaching Family Members of US Military Personnel [More]

Public Intelligence has a good reputation for not going off half-cocked and spreading spurious or unvetted stuff. Still, it pays to be cautious, for instance, documents can be forged and the best of us can be fallible, so when the alert advised "Comments and queries may be addressed to the DENVER Division at 303-629-7171," I took 'em up on it.

The guy at the switchboard put me through to their media liaison, a special agent, actually, and her voice message advised if I wanted a timely answer, to send an email.

Fair enough. I prefer things documented anyway, so I wrote:

I am a member of the news media and a field editor for GUNS Magazine. I am attempting to determine the authenticity of the SIR presented at the Public Intelligence website: https://publicintelligence.net/fbi-middle-eastern-males/ As this is already making the rounds on the internet, and evidently on the verge of gaining wider notice, the FOUO notice no longer seems much of a deterrent. Can you confirm if it is authentic?

And received back:

Thanks for reaching out. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide any information on the authenticity or contents of the document you sent. Our standard practice is to neither confirm nor deny investigations or comment on bulletins provided to law enforcement partners. Thank you,

Reading between the lines...

If anybody knows anyone who received this alert in an LE capacity and I can validate that, tell them I offer the same source protection guarantees the Fast and Furious guys came to trust me 'n Mike over -- not that I'm holding my breath, but I gotta try.

The Perks of Being an Authorized Journalist

Thursday, October 23, 2014 FBI warns journalists about ISIS...in America The FBI sent this alert out to news organizations and journalists this afternoon... [More]

I guess one of the perks is a heads-up about maybe getting kidnapped and having your head sawed off on video. I just learned of this today from a colleague who got the memo when it came out. How they determined who qualified receiving it would be a good thing to determine, especially since, in addition to being #justablogger, I'm actually a "real reporter" with a press card issued from a national media organization and everything -- plus, I know for a fact DOJ knows about me.

They know about this guy, too, but truth be known, there are no doubt some who wouldn't lose any sleep over taking him out themselves.

But that's not the point either. Not that I particularly consider myself a target of any note, and I understand I'd probably have a greater chance of winning at Power Ball (party at my place when I do!), but we all deserve to know about this.

So look at what a search for the title returns.

The fact that I needed to go offsite from FBI.gov to find a transcript, as opposed to being able to find a posted copy with press release on site, would seem to indicate somebody made a conscious decision to play what they perceived to be a threat to human life close to the vest.  Who and why?

Maybe it's there-- but it sure isn't easy to find.

Among the Other Claims...

...linked to the “Operation Fast and Furious” gun scandal... [More]

I have not had time to check on this and quite probably will not with the workload I'm facing at the moment. I hope someone who does will, because "experience hath shewn" that sometimes revelations come from unlikely independents.

With that I counsel "press onward" but with a grain of salt, which no one should object to. And I'll add this, possibly but not definitively related, from a story I was working on in January 2015 but did not develop enough credible corroboration to run with -- here's from my unanswered email to ATF's Baltimore SAC:

I have been told a subject of an FBI investigation was a Baltimore police officer assigned to the ATF  Gun Task Force.  I am further told the FBI advised the ATF SAC in Baltimore, and that this information was then shared with the subject. I am told the subject then made calls revealing he knew of this that were picked up on the FBI wire, including the name of the ATF source. 

I suppose if LE finally decides to break down and contacts me back, I'll need to see if my eminently credible source insists on me protecting his name, which is what Mike V and I always did above all else.

[Via Florida Guy]