ATF raid in Parker City - Ludco Gun Shop

[trillobite]

Doh! Sorry bout quoting copyrighted stuff.
Updated, Fred was arrested by the Feds, selling weapons to felons and non-Indiana residents. There's a picture of the activity up, now.
Parker City gun shop raided, owner arrested | The Star Press | thestarpress.com
Heck, he was so stubborn to deal with, maybe I was the wrong demographic?

 

[Cannon762]

I honestly don't think this feels right. I lived in Parker my whole life. Ludington might be stubborn, but he's always been a popular upstanding member of the city. Unless something shady was going on after-hours, I'm not buying this 100%, call it denial if you wish. This just sucks.

 

[trillobite]

Picture slideshow is up.
Parker City gun shop raided, owner arrested | The Star Press | thestarpress.com
Haven't been there in a decade, but I'd heard that Fred wasn't in the shop much anymore. Maybe a bad employee?
I bought a rifle there, almost 20 years ago. It's long since been traded off.

 

[gohard43]

They should have those 70 agents out on the streets getting guns from the thugs !! What a waste.

 

[BigGuyinMuncie]

Guess he got what he deserved. I was in there Saturday trying to find a Fobus holster, and a tac rail adapter for my sigma s+w but since I wasn't spending a bunch of money, he acted like he didn't have time for me. I think I read that he was selling guns to felons and non-residents.

 

[jedi]

So what happens to the guns?? Gov't auction so all the LEOs and such get great deals on all the goodies? Or do they just put them away for evidence? And why are half of the ATF agents in the picture women? Just wondering

ATF has two major divisions: LEOs and code enforcers (non-LEOs).
Suspect that what you see in the pics are code enforcers (females) that will be busy bees inventorying everything (guns, records, etc..) so that the .gov can make it's cases against the owner.

 

[thompal]

He had a big inventory last time I was in there. 70 agents? Love to see our tax money at work.

70 ATF agents, PLUS investigators, PLUS "support personnel," PLUS State Police assistance.

Sounds like probably over 100 people took part. Can't wait to see what this is all about.

Keep in mind that what ATF really does it perform assaults on citizens who have either made a paperwork error, or failed to pay a tax on something.

 

[thompal]

Reading the comments on the article the "rumor" is that he was sellig full autos and/or kits to make full-autos.

And wasn't paying tax to The State?? Oh, the horrors!!

 

[thompal]

Probably was just selling the slide fire stock... (smirk)

Don't joke. I seem to remember ATF killing a Boy Scout leader years ago because he had an inert grenade. ATF is serious about collecting their taxes.

 

[duffman0286]

^^This. Think the ATF won't be going through every 4473 and making copies for their records? Glad I've never been in that store.

I been there a few times the guy is a jerk seems angry he has to take time to show you a gun. Went there once to buy a glock 21 after dealing with him i took my business to Wulff's gun shop in connersville he'll gladly help anyone and if he doesnt have it he will order it or do transfers. Im glad i never ordered a gun of him and i wont miss that place.

 

[IndianaResident]

Wonder what happens to layaways and consignments...

 

[thompal]

Doh! Sorry bout quoting copyrighted stuff.
Updated, Fred was arrested by the Feds, selling weapons to felons and non-Indiana residents. There's a picture of the activity up, now.
Parker City gun shop raided, owner arrested | The Star Press | thestarpress.com
Heck, he was so stubborn to deal with, maybe I was the wrong demographic?

Coming from the ATF, I have ZERO faith that this is anywhere close to the truth. More likely, it means that they tried to pressure him to entrap someone, and he refused to play their game.

Or, perhaps he was not very polite to an ATF agent during a visit.

I wouldn't trust ATF to tell the truth under any circumstances. If they want to arrest a gunstore owner, do they really need 100 people to do it? Why not just wait for him to leave work and approach him in the parking lot with a polite "Excuse me sir"?

Let me guess, ATF's budget is up for renewal, and they needed a grandstanding event to show what a grand job they are doing? Did they arrive in cattle trailers?

 

[LegatoRedrivers]

This is going to take a while to inventory. The shop is small, but it is crammed full of firearms.

That's true, the place was packet to the brim. I was there, and personally carried out 70... I mean, 34 firearms.

 

[printcraft]

Word is they got a tip from a confidential informant on the ways of selling to felons and out of state'ers.

 

[PhilB]

A friend of mine just told me that Fred had purchased the property next door and had plans to expand the gunshop and even put in an underground range. I imagine this will change things. Was really surprised when I saw Fred got raided. I wonder if it was Fred doing the illegal stuff or one of the guys that worked for him. Since he is the owner I guess it really wouldn't matter.

 

[Jubba]

I left work to watch the press conference but didn't find it on tv. Also, a coworker had 2 guns there for repair.

 

[Roadie]

I couldnt find the press conference either..

 

[printcraft]

I left work to watch the press conference but didn't find it on tv. Also, a coworker had 2 guns there for repair.

The slideshow shows them loading inventory into a box truck........... might be a problem for him.

 

[thompal]

I left work to watch the press conference but didn't find it on tv. Also, a coworker had 2 guns there for repair.

If they were rifles, and if ATF ever returns them to him (which I doubt), I would STRONGLY suggest he take them DIRECTLY to a gunsmith to make sure that certain parts requiring a tax haven't mysteriously appeared in his gun. He may expect a visit from a few dozen ATF agents in full military garb who intend on enforcing that tax code.

 

[Larryjr]

I been in to Ludco a bunch of times in my life and bought a few things there over the years. Fred isn't the nicest guy you'll ever meet and his prices usually stink but something about this raid stinks too. It won't matter if Fred is guilty of anything or not, this is and will be bad press for the gun world and will provide another reason for more nonsense legislation.