Met an ATF agent today!

[printcraft]

Wait, wait. OP, you're telling me all government agents aren't evil gun grabbers? Weird, I'd gotten a completely different impression from most gun owners.

Lulling you into a false sense of security.

I avoid talking to strangers at gun shos.

I'm pickin up what you laying down. Fo sho.

 

[MikeDVB]

If you have been to a gun sho, you have met an ATF agent.

I can't say I've ever met one, but I don't hang out usually... I usually go in for a specific item, buy it, and leave lol.

 

[bluewraith]

Over the last 10 years or so I have met around 75 agents working my job, got to know some of them somewhat well out of that number only one was kind of an "a" hole, the rest all super nice guys and gals.

As my Grandfather used to say: "They put their pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else"

 

[Denny347]

Good Lord they are just people like the rest of us. I have a cousin and several friends that are ATF agents, a USSS agent, several DEA, and FBI. There is no mystique.

 

[Bill of Rights]

Good Lord they are just people like the rest of us. I have a cousin and several friends that are ATF agents, a USSS agent, several DEA, and FBI. There is no mystique.

No mystique, no, Denny, but the power and authority to mess up your whole day, especially at a gun show or gun shop. You figure most of the time they're there, it's not to browse for personal ownership, but because they're on duty, which means looking for offenses.

With as many laws as we have on the books, not violating one is a challenge, and ignorance of the law is no excuse unless you happen to be the guy enforcing one that doesn't exist.

I realize that what I've written here applies to any LEO, and further, that I'm telling you nothing new. I think the OP's point was just that the guy he met didn't fit the "Men In Black"/"Dragnet" stereotype.

Blessings,
Bill

 

[printcraft]

Well, all I know is it is a good thing that the BATF would never get involved
in a illegal political witch hunt and intimidation like the IRS did.


Wait.........


IRS Scandal: Facts Suggest Other Gov Agencies Involved | Texas GOP Vote

Crap.

 

[snowwalker]

There is good and bad in every profession and in every field of life, just common sense. At the same time in the last twenty years, or so it seems like, we as a country are unraveling at the seams. Just feels like to me that a storm is heading our way.

 

[mainjet]

There is good and bad in every profession and in every field of life, just common sense. At the same time in the last twenty years, or so it seems like, we as a country are unraveling at the seams. Just feels like to me that a storm is heading our way.

I agree.

 

[jgreiner]

atf + the red fluid in my tranny

I had a smart *ssed reply...but I best leave it be...........

 

[Dead Duck]

atf + the red fluid in my tranny

You have a Tranny? When were you going to tell us.

I'm pretty sure that all trannies have red fluid in them, unless they're alien trannies - then it's green.

 

[Movealongmovealong]

You're probably right. But just today a fellow INGO member told me that he had a couple guys from IL trying to buy the pistol he had on the INGO classifieds. Maybe just regular guys from IL trying to buy a pistol but that's still ILLEGAL and who's to say they weren't ATF? Dot your I's, cross your T's and CYA!

Hmm, this can get into a bit of a gray area.

If they are asking him to transfer it via their LGS FFL, then there is no problem, actually. The crux of the law is where possession takes place.

 

[KoopaKGB]

All kidding aside you can bet ATF monitors this site, Armslist, and all the online gun related auction sites!

I feel like the ATF is a bigger boogy man then folks make them out to be.

The ATF has about 5000 agents... There are what, 300,000,000+ guns in private hands?! Theres about 61,000 FFL holders in the US. I imagine they spend a good deal of their time simply inspecting paperwork, rather then browse the MANY online classifieds sites hoping to bust somebody with what looks to be doing an illegal activity. Plus I can only imagine the headache that is dealing with the vast quantities of paperwork and NFA items and all that crap that floods their offices daily. Then again this is pure speculation on my part, numbers from google search might be totally wrong and maybe ATF does spend all it's budget constantly sending paying for agents to attend gunshows in Indiana and all over the country, the rest of the agents are paid to browse classifieds and attempt to investigate ppl doing private to private sales. And forget about the explosives part to their title, who knows what they do during their alcohol and tobacco investigations...

 

[in625shooter]

I feel like the ATF is a bigger boogy man then folks make them out to be.

The ATF has about 5000 agents... There are what, 300,000,000+ guns in private hands?! Theres about 61,000 FFL holders in the US. I imagine they spend a good deal of their time simply inspecting paperwork, rather then browse the MANY online classifieds sites hoping to bust somebody with what looks to be doing an illegal activity. Plus I can only imagine the headache that is dealing with the vast quantities of paperwork and NFA items and all that crap that floods their offices daily. Then again this is pure speculation on my part, numbers from google search might be totally wrong and maybe ATF does spend all it's budget constantly sending paying for agents to attend gunshows in Indiana and all over the country, the rest of the agents are paid to browse classifieds and attempt to investigate ppl doing private to private sales. And forget about the explosives part to their title, who knows what they do during their alcohol and tobacco investigations...

While ATF has around 5,000 employees less than 2,800 are Special Agents. ATF has several employees that audit paperwork at dealers/distributors. ATF then has other employees that are assigned to industry sector to inspect factories and other custom firearm operations and buisnesses. Upon any findings of illegal activity then the ATF Special Agents would then get involved.

 

[KoopaKGB]

While ATF has around 5,000 employees less than 2,800 are Special Agents. ATF has several employees that audit paperwork at dealers/distributors. ATF then has other employees that are assigned to industry sector to inspect factories and other custom firearm operations and buisnesses. Upon any findings of illegal activity then the ATF Special Agents would then get involved.

Less than 2,800 special agents? Wow, good to know. The rest of the force are just paper pushers.

 

[in625shooter]

Less than 2,800 special agents? Wow, good to know. The rest of the force are just paper pushers.

Well, they are a little more than paper pushers but they aren't Special Agents either

 

[ryang]

I would bet there are ATF agents on INGO.

Of course they are probably the guys *****ing about not being able to use the classifieds because they don't have 50 quality posts.

What we really need to worry about is the SSBFB (Super Secretive Bureau of Firearms and Bacon) rumor has it they are tracking us all..

 

[KoopaKGB]

What we really need to worry about is the SSBFB (Super Secretive Bureau of Firearms and Bacon) rumor has it they are tracking us all..

I suppose you can't do too much about that though.